HC Deb 16 February 1959 vol 600 cc6-8
14. Mr. Fitch

asked the Paymaster-General if the Minister of Power will call a conference of the heads of the coal, gas, and electricity undertakings to work out plans for closer co-operation.

Sir I. Horobin

No, Sir. My noble Friend is in constant touch with the nationalised industries on such matters.

Mr. Fitch

Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the National Coal Board should be given some idea of the amount of coal which is likely to be required by the electricity and gas industries within the next five years, and does he not feel that it is essential that the heads of these industries should be called together from time to time to work out a co-ordinated fuel policy?

Sir I. Horobin

As I have said, my noble Friend is in constant touch with these gentlemen, who are in constant touch with one another, but it does not follow that all put together can discover how much coal will be used five years ahead; life would be very much simpler if we could.

18. Lady Megan Lloyd George

asked the Paymaster-General what machinery he has set up to co-ordinate the policies of the National Coal Board, the Electricity Board and the Gas Board.

Sir I. Horobin

The necessary machinery already exists in the form of the Ministry of Power.

Lady Megan Lloyd George

Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied with the present arrangements? Does he not think that, in the interests of a balanced fuel policy, it is time to set up machinery to integrate and co-ordinate the policies of the three Departments?

Sir I. Horobin

I do not think that adding more machinery would help. Whatever the views of hon. Gentlemen on either side of the House, the Ministry of Power does its job. That is part of its responsibility. If it did not do it, it would not do it any better by having another bit of machinery.

Lady Megan Lloyd George

Can the Parliamentary Secretary give an undertaking that the Ministry of Power will carry out its undertakings and responsibilities in this matter?

Sir I. Horobin

Indeed, yes. We are constantly in touch with the heads of these three industries.

Mr. Nabarro

A jolly good Parliamentary Secretary.