§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what record he has of or what representations he received from the water industry, before privatisation, about its inability to recruit the most suitable applicants for posts in top and middle management, or skilled scientific and professional grades owing to inadequate or non-competitive salaries.
§ Mr. BaldryIn making the appointments of executive directors of the new water and sewerage companies before privatisation we had in mind the need to attract applicants of the necessary calibre and took into account representations from the industry about the salaries that were required for that purpose. In some cases, it was necessary for these to be above the existing scales of the industry. The relevant salaries were listed in the prospectus.