§ 35. Mr. Geoffrey Cooperasked the Minister of Fuel and Power when it is intended that Regional Consumers' Councils will be set up to consider the problems of industry and of domestic consumers, and to provide some safeguards for consumers' interests which cannot be adequately met by the Central Consumers' Councils now functioning remote from those faced with problems daily, particularly in the iron and steel and other industrial areas of the country.
§ Mr. GaitskellIn their annual reports for the year ended 30th June, 1948, both the Domestic and Industrial Coal Consumers' Councils indicated that they did 524 not favour for the present the appointment of Regional Councils. I will, however, bring my hon. Friend's suggestion to the notice of both Councils.
§ Mr. CooperCould my right hon. Friend say if he has had any representations made to him on the lines of the unsatisfactory and inadequate procedure that applies at present; could he review the whole matter to see if at least the sanction of sitting in public could be applied to the procedure of these councils; and could he introduce a system of decentralisation into the work of these councils?
§ Mr. GaitskellI am not aware of any representations of the kind mentioned by my hon. Friend. The question whether or not to sit in public is a matter for the councils themselves.