§ 6. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the chairman of the British Petroleum Company was not invited to meet him last Thursday with the other heads of State-owned industries.
§ The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Sir Edward Boyle)The chairman of this company is not the head of a statutory public corporation.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonWhile what the Economic Secretary says is quite true, would it not help the Government's campaign to stabilise or reduce prices if this Government-owned company showed a little more co-operation by reducing or stabilising the price of petrol which, of course, enters into costs very considerably?
§ Sir E. BoyleAs the hon. and gallant Gentleman is aware, this is a public limited company and not a nationalised industry, and the policy of this Government, as of its predecessors ever since 1914, has been one of non-intervention in commercial management.