§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Prime Minister what is Government policy towards golden handshakes for departing chairmen of publicly owned companies; and how much public money has been spent in the last 10 years on this or related purposes.
§ The Prime MinisterMinisters may determine the compensation which may be paid to chairmen and others of boards of nationalised industries and other public boards and corporations when their appointments end prematurely in circumstances which make it right that the person concerned should receive compensation. The normal practice is that the assessment of compensation follows broadly the approach of a court of law in assessing damages for a breach of contract. Records are not kept centrally on the amount of compensation which has been paid to chairmen and members of public boards over the last 10 years.