I would agree, Nigel, that someone with all those responsibilities should be well paid.

But there was an interesting article in the Telegraph that is related to this. It is behind a paywall so you may mot be able to read the full thing, but here is an important paragraph:

This is not a product of one government’s incompetence. It reflects deep-seated changes in the way state power is conceived and organised – by political parties of left and right, not just in Britain but in many other “advanced” economies. A system built around dispersing responsibility, accountability and control is, unsurprisingly, irresponsible, unaccountable, and not in control of its fate.

Most of the things you refer to, Nigel, have been delegated, with the result that the Government says the PPE problems were not theirs, they were PH(E) failures, and so on.

I would say the government does merit those salaries if it is responsible for the things you mention (and others). If, however, it delegates all responsibility it does not.