Renumeration Committee
The Remuneration Committee members are Ken Harvey, Stephen Pettit,
George Rose and John Allan. The Committee chairman is John Grant.
Each of these
Non-executive Directors is regarded by the Board as
independent and served throughout the year, except John Allan, who
was appointed with effect from 1 May 2005.
The Group Human Resources Director provides advice on remuneration policies and practices and is usually invited to attend meetings along with the Chairman and the Group Chief Executive. No Director or other attendee participates in any discussion on his or her own remuneration.
The Remuneration Committee is responsible for developing Group policy on executive remuneration, and for determining the remuneration of the Executive Directors and the executives below Board level who report directly to the Group Chief Executive. It also monitors the remuneration of other senior employees of the Group and has oversight of the operation of all the Group's share and share option plans.
The Board has accepted all the recommendations made by the Committee during the year.
The Remuneration Committee has authority to obtain the advice of outside independent remuneration consultants and is solely responsible for their appointment, retention and termination and for approval of their fees and other terms.
In the year to 31 March 2005, the following advisors provided services to the Committee:
- Ernst & Young LLP, independent remuneration advisors;
- Alithos Limited, provision of Total Shareholder Return calculations for Performance Share Plan and Executive Share Option Plan; and
- Linklaters, advice relating to Directors' Service Contracts.