HC Deb 12 February 1951 vol 484 cc18-9
23. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has considered the extracts from the speech to a Press conference on 5th December of the Chairman of the British Electricity Authority sent him by the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames; and whether he will make a further statement on the matter.

Mr. Robens

My right hon. Friend has considered the extracts from Lord Citrine's statement which were sent to him by the hon. Member. They show that Lord Citrine did not say what the hon. Member suggested he had said when he put a Question last week, and I therefore have nothing to add to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave him then.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether that answer means that the report in the "Daily Herald" of that Press conference was inaccurate; and, second, why his right hon. Friend did not carry out his promise, made simultaneously with my promise to him, to send his version of the speech to me?

Mr. Robens

It means that the hon. Gentleman put a different interpretation on Lord Citrine's words from that of my right hon. Friend.

Lieut.-Commander Braithwaite

Will Lord Citrine shortly be revisiting this country to clear the matter up?