§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister why, during the Christmas parliamentary recess, an announcement was made that the chairmen and top paid people in the nationalised industries are to be given salary increases up to 15 per cent.; and, in view of the fact that such increases are contrary to Her Majesty's Government's policy of limiting public employees' increases generally to amounts between 3 per cent. and 6 per cent., whether she will ensure that these increases are not applied until Parliament has had an opportunity to discuss the issue.
§ The Prime MinisterNo such announcement was made in the Christmas parliamentary recess. The pay of chairmen and members of nationalised industry boards is dealt with on an individual, board by board basis, taking account of such factors as the need to recruit and retain top quality managers, differentials with senior staff and the performance of the industry.
Because board pay has been held back in the past there have been problems over attracting suitable people to serve as board members and some cases of board members earning less than those working for them. These considerations led to a range of increases in 1982, a few of which were as high as 15 per cent.