HC Deb 14 June 1951 vol 488 cc2512-3
47. Mr. Perkins

asked the Prime Minister what is the policy of the Government with regard to the holding of periodical reviews of the public corporations.

The Prime Minister

There is nothing that I could usefully add to the full statement which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made on 25th October last in the course of the general debate on socialised industries.

Mr. Perkins

Is the Prime Minister aware that there has been no inquiry into B.O.A.C. for 12 years, although it has been a socialised or nationalised industry? Is it not highly desirable that there should be an open inquiry in the case of B.O.A.C. as in the case of the B.B.C.?

The Prime Minister

The hon. Member knows very well that B.O.A.C. was not responsible for its revenue and expenditure until 1st April, 1946, and that normal operations did not begin until 1947. There have been internal inquiries, and it would be a mistake to have another inquiry at the present time.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Is the Prime Minister aware of the widespread feeling throughout the country about these nationalised industries and corporations, which represent an important section of our economic life over which the House, which represents the shareholders, has practically no control whatever? As this is a problem of the first magnitude, will he cause an inquiry to be made with a view to setting up the necessary machinery by which there can be control?

The Prime Minister

I would refer the hon. Member to the debate I have mentioned and the speech made by the Foreign Secretary. As a matter of fact, there is more power to inquire into this section of industry than into private industry.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

If the right hon. Gentleman be right in saying there is more power to inquire into this section of industry than private industry, would he give serious consideration to an inquiry into the transport industry? Is he aware that that industry, quite apart from losing money and putting up prices, is now in the position where it is actually refusing traffics, to the great damage of our rearmament programme and all our export trade?

Mrs. Braddock

Is the Prime Minister aware that, from an entirely different point of view from that expressed by hon. Members opposite, people who work in publicly controlled industries are becoming very concerned about the sabotage that is going on by those supporting hon. Members opposite, in order to undermine the publicly controlled industries and bring them into disrepute?