§ 40. Mr. A. Robertsasked the Paymaster-General if he will convene a meeting of the chairmen of the National Coal Board, the Gas Council, and the Central Electricity Authority and representatives of the oil industry with a view to co-ordinating the fuel and power industries.
§ Mr. MaudlingMy noble Friend has a statutory duty to secure the co-ordinated development of fuel and power in Great Britain and he arranges such consultations as are necessary for this purpose.
§ Mr. RobertsHas such a meeting taken place recently between the chairmen mentioned in the Question?
§ Mr. MaudlingMy noble Friend has had meetings with all the leading figures in the fuel and power industries, but, as this is a confidential matter, I am not prepared to say whom he has met on any particular occasion.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe right hon. Gentleman speaks about the power of coordinating, but is there any effective coordination in the fuel and power industries?
§ Mr. MaudlingIf by "co-ordination" the right hon. Gentleman means the suppression of competition, the answer is, "No."
§ Mr. ShinwellSurely this is a matter of considerable national importance. Surely competition has nothing to do with co-ordination. Is it not possible for the Minister to effect co-ordination between the three fuel and power industries while at the same time permitting an element of competition?
§ Mr. MaudlingNo, Sir. As the Ridley Committee said a few years ago, a co-ordinated fuel policy should be based on free competition, but when hon. Members opposite put forward what they call a national fuel policy what they normally mean is the abolition of competition.