§ 60. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that Mr. L. Plover, Labour Director, North-West Region, National Coal Board, was billed in that capacity to speak as representative of the Labour Party at the Radcliffe Open Forum on 29th October; and whether it is in accordance with the policy of the National Coal Board to permit its officers to speak in that capacity on behalf of a political party.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe policy of the National Coal Board is governed by the broad principles stated by the Prime Minister in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Charles Smith) on 1st May. Mr. Plover did not, in fact, address the Radcliffe Open Forum, either as representative of the Labour Party or, indeed, at all, and the second part of the hon. Member's question is therefore hypothetical.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWill the right hon. Gentleman look at the Question which he has purported to answer, from which he will observe that there is no suggestion that the meeting was 542 addressed, but only that Mr. Plover was billed to address it; and will he answer the issue of principle raised in the Question, namely, whether or not it is the policy of the National Coal Board to allow persons holding senior appointments under it to be billed in that capacity to speak as representatives of a political party?
§ Mr. GaitskellI read the hon. Member's Question very carefully.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe right hon. Gentleman did not answer it.
§ Mr. GaitskellNeither I nor the National Coal Board can be responsible for what the Labour Party, or any other political party, puts on its bills. Therefore, I do not have responsibility, in the manner suggested, for an error which must have been made in this case. As regards the second part of the supplementary question, I suggest that the hon. Member should study the reply given by the Prime Minister.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterDoes that answer mean, in view of the right hon. Gentleman's reference to an error, that this kind of thing is, in point of fact, contrary to the policy of the National Coal Board?
§ Mr. GaitskellNo, Sir. The error relates to the fact that Mr. Plover was said to be going to speak but did not, in fact, speak, and there was, therefore, an error. That is all I am speaking about.
§ Sir John MellorIf the right hon. Gentleman read the Question carefully, was not his answer an attempt to be a great deal too clever?
§ Mr. PalmerWill my right hon. Friend give an assurance that in future the principle of political freedom for the employees of all public boards will be maintained?