Mr David Winnick (Walsall North) (Lab)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I wonder whether you can advise me on how we can secure a statement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or another Treasury Minister, about the substantial extra sums that are being given to the leading bank executives, the most senior people: the chief executives and their colleagues. For example, the chief executive of HSBC is to receive an extra £32,000 a week on top of his salary of more than £1 million a year.
May I point out, Sir, that the annual salary in my borough is about £22,000? The sheer greed of the bankers involved is quite disgraceful. A Treasury Minister is in the Chamber now; I wonder whether he will respond.
The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Gauke)
indicated dissent.
Mr Winnick
The Minister shakes his head. I can well understand his embarrassment, because we are constantly told that we are all in it together. Why can we not have a statement about what is happening in the banking industry? If the Minister is not willing to respond to my point of order, may I suggest that we should have some opportunity to raise the issue in the Chamber?