§ Lord Jenkins of Putneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware that the average wage increase in companies controlled by the Hanson Trust is less than one tenth of the increase of the salary of the chairman which has risen by 70 per cent. to £5,750 per week and whether they intend to take any action to discourage excessive increases in the remuneration of directors of large companies.
§ The Secretary of State for Employment (Lord Young of Graffham)The Government consider it important that employers and employees should take account of the effect of pay increases on costs, competitiveness and jobs. Each company should consider carefully what it can afford; and what it needs to pay to recruit, retain and motivate its staff, including its senior staff. But it is for companies, not third parties like the Government, to decide what level of pay is right in each case.