EXCESSIVE PAY AWARDS TO ROLLS-ROYCE BOARD MEMBERS

That this House views the announcement that Rolls-Royce Board members have received 27 per cent. pay increases as a further example of corporate greed; believes such an award to be ill-judged and unjustified since it follows a programme of plant closures and contractions throughout the company's operations in the United Kingdom resulting in the loss of thousands of highly-skilled engineering jobs and at a time when below inflation pay increases are being imposed on Rolls-Royce employees; calls upon the board to exercise restraint in the remuneration awards given to board members; and to reverse its damaging plant closure programme, particularly the decision to close the engine design and engineering support facility at East Kilbride which, if implemented, will significantly undermine the research and development base of aero-engine design within the United Kingdom aerospace sector.