§ Q1. Mr. Lubbockasked the Prime Minister if he will introduce amending legislation to improve the control exercised by Ministers over the nationalised boards for which they are responsible.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)The hon. Gentleman's Question is too vague the permit of an answer. If, however, he would care to let me or my right hon. Friends with responsibilities for nationalised industries have specific proposals, we would, of course, look at them.
§ Mr. LubbockIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Chairman of the National Coal Board has said that his responsibilities are not to individual Ministers, who may come and go as the policy changes, but to the nation as a whole? Will he see that heads of nationalised industries who take this view are brought to heel? [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Chairman of the N.C.B. has his duties clearly laid down in the appropriate Statutes and I have no doubt that it will be his desire to carry them out.
§ Mr. MikardoIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries is just completing a study which covers precisely the ground of the original Question? Would it not be a good idea to wait and hear what the Select Committee has to say?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. I was aware of the likelihood of the Select Committee presenting its report on this matter shortly and we were looking forward to studying it before going further into these matters.