§ 39. Mr. Warbeyasked the Minister of Power if, before granting a pipeline authorisation for any major new pipeline development under Section 1 of the Pipe-lines Act, he will make a report to the House of his preliminary conclusions on the applications submitted to him.
§ Mr. PeytonNo, Sir.
§ Mr. WarbeyWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that his right hon. Friend will, in many circumstances, have to deal with competing applications involving substantial financial interests, and that, in order to ensure that the public interest is served in reaching a decision in such cases, it would be highly desirable for him not only to do justice but to see that justice is done publicly? Would not the method of preparing something like a draft scheme before coming to a final determination in such cases be very helpful to the Minister?
§ Mr. PeytonI am sure that my right hon. Friend will be very grateful for the hon. Gentleman's advice, but I think it most unlikely that he will accept it. My right hon. Friend has every intention of following the procedure laid down by Parliament in the recent Act.
§ Mr. WarbeyWill the hon. Gentleman take a slightly more serious view of a suggestion put forward to assist his right hon. Friend to carry out the intentions of the Pipe-lines Act, which were that the Minister should act in the public interest?
§ Mr. PeytonI should hate to give the impression that my right hon. Friend would not give very serious consideration to any advice offered by the hon. Gentle-man. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] A great deal of it was offered during the proceedings on the Pipe-lines Bill.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs not the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the type of answer which he gives to hon. Members on this side is not the type that we expect from someone sitting on the back benches? We expect rather more courtsey from the Front Bench.
§ Mr. PeytonI assure the right hon. Gentleman that no discourtesy was intended. I merely said that my right hon. Friend will seriously consider any advice given to him in this House.