HC Deb 05 November 1968 vol 772 cc668-71
10. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Power whether he will make a statement on his recent Summit fuel conferences at the Civil Defence Staff College at Sunningdale, Berkshire, with the National Coal Board and other nationalised fuel industries; and to what extent he has been able to reach an agreed policy for the coal user between the National Coal Board and the Electricity and Gas Boards, and others.

12. Mr. Lubbock

asked the Minister of Power if he will publish the documents submitted by him to the Sunningdale Conference; what decisions were made at the conference; and if he will make a statement.

26. Mr. Lane

asked the Minister of Power in what respects he proposes to alter the Government's fuel policy as a result of his recent conference at Sunningdale; and whether he will make a statement.

31. Mr. Boston

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the recent talks he had with the chairmen of the fuel and steel industries at Sunningdale.

36. Mr. Cronin

asked the Minister of Power what consideration he is giving to reviewing the Government's policy for coal in the light of his recent conference at Sunningdale with the heads of the State fuel industries and the British Steel Corporation.

45. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on his reappraisal of national fuel policy following his recent discussions with the heads of the fuel industries.

Mr. Mason

The Conference at Sunningdale was the first meeting under my chairmanship of the Minister of Power's Co-ordinating Committee, in which the chairmen of the nationalised industries, for which I am responsible, came together for collective discussion on matters of common interest. At this meeting we took the opportunity, as part of the Ministry's continuing work on fuel policy to review developments in the energy sector since the publication of the White Paper, and to discuss the programme for further work on energy problems. The meeting was also concerned with broader general questions of relations between the Government and the industries.

It was not intended to reappraise policy as such, or to reach new policy decisions, and none were taken. The papers and proceedings of the Conference are confidential.

Sir G. Nabarro

That is a very unsatisfactory Answer. Can the right hon Gentleman assure the House that the long-standing hostility between the heads of the gas and electricity industries and the Chairman of the National Coal Board was resolved under his harmonious chairmanship, or does this hostility still remain?

Mr. Mason

I found all the chairmen to be most reasonable and co-operative throughout the conference.

Mr. Lubbock

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when his predecessor refused to publish documents submitted to the Selsdon Park Conference, he was forced to disgorge them by the Committee on Science and Technology? Would it not be a good thing for the right hon. Gentleman to publish the documents in this case without being forced into doing so by another Select Committee? Would he agree that it would also be a better idea to carry forward the estimates in the White Paper on fuel policy, rather than to revise those which have already been made, by adding another year's figures at the end?

Mr. Mason

I do not like the threat underlying the hon. Gentleman's question about my being forced to reveal papers. On the occasion of the Selsdon Park Conference, drafts were before the chairmen in relation to the 1967 White Paper on fuel policy. On this occasion the two or three papers before the chairmen where on entirely different matters and were, therefore, confidential.

Mr. Lane

In view of the importance of keeping down steel prices, what steps is the right hon. Gentleman taking to at least reduce the competitive disadvantage of the steel industry in terms of the price it must pay for fuel compared with its international competitors?

Mr. Mason

That matter was not a subject on the agenda of the Sunningdale Conference.

Mr. Hamilton

Does my right hon. Friend recognise that this House is entitled to information which is bandied about between the chairmen of nationalised industries and my right hon. Friend? Is it not the case that if my right hon. Friend is not forthcoming in this regard, a Select Committee of this House will ensure that it gets the information to which it is entitled?

Mr. Mason

I fully appreciate the point of view of my hon. Friend and the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock)—

Sir G. Nabarro

What about me? I started it.

Mr. Mason

Hon. Members will be fully aware that if threats of this kind are to be made and if Select Committees are to search for papers, it is understandable that in future those who prepare papers for these round-table conferences will always have these matters in mind.

Mr. Emery

As the Minister must appreciate that all of industry makes budgets and forecasts as a result of the White Paper on fuel policy, will he say categorically that the Selsdon Park Conference did not revise the budgets and forecasts, and so enable industry to know exactly where it stands?

Mr. Mason

That is true. It did not revise them, although there was a matter which perturbed the Chairman of the N.C.B. As I said, the other chairmen were co-operative and responsible throughout the conference and appreciated his difficulty; and we are prepared to look afresh at the new trends in coal.

Mr. Edwin Wainwright

Is my right hon. Friend aware that rumour might result in disturbing stories being sent out to the public, so bringing a tremendous amount of fear to the hearts of the miners? Will he now publish the evidence which was arrived at at that conference, and so make us all aware of the facts?

Mr. Mason

It would not help matters to publish such evidence because it has nothing to do with the matter before us. I said that the chairmen appreciated the position of the Chairman of the National Coal Board in relation to the recent rundown in manpower figures. Because of that, we are looking afresh at the trends in coal.

Several Hon. Members rose

—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Mr. Irvine, Question No. 11.

Sir G. Nabarro

On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's Answer, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the adjournment.

Mr. Speaker

Such notice should be given more quickly.