§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister if she will instruct all Ministers that they should in future follow the practice of the Secretary of State for Industry in the case of Sir William Barlow as proposed by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West, and refuse to sanction golden handshakes for retiring chairmen of nationalised industries who will already be in receipt of index-linked pensions.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is not the Government's policy to pay compensation to those nationalised industry chairmen and board members who retire normally at the end of an appointment or resign at their own initiative. In cases where an appointment is terminated prematurely by a Minister, the case for compensation must be judged on its merits, having regard to the board member's entitlement under his terms of appointment.