§ 47. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Prime Minister what is the Government's ruling regarding high executives of nationalised industries making statements to the Press.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is for the Board of a Corporation to determine the conditions under which its officers may communicate with the Press on matters affecting the Corporation.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyMay we take it from the reply that the statement made by Air Vice-Marshal Bennett to the "Daily Express" was not the cause of his dismissal, and that it was something about which we have not yet been told?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not understand. I understand that the Corporation did dismiss Air Vice-Marshal Bennett.
§ Mr. MikardoIn view of the fact that boards of directors of private companies would never permit individual members to make Press statements contrary to the policy of the boards, can my right hon. Friend think of any reason why boards of directors of publicy-owned companies should do so?
§ The Prime MinisterNo.