HC Deb 23 July 1964 vol 699 cc678-9
26. Mr. T. Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development why he will not make available to the House the text of the ruling by the Restrictive Practices Court on steel price agreements.

Mr. Heath

This judgment is reported in extenso in the Weekly Law Report for 10th July, 1964, under the title "In re British Heavy Steel Makers' Agreement". This will shortly be available in the Library.

Mr. Fraser

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that very shortly hon. Members will be going away for the Summer Recess and the General Election? In view of the propaganda of the steel companies, partly at the cost of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, claiming great advantages for competitive private enterprise in this industry, may I ask whether it is not highly desirable that the Press and the public should be fully informed of the results of this inquiry showing that there is something lacking in the competitive claim for the industry?

Mr. Heath

I am fully in agreement with both the Press and the public having the fullest information. If the hon. Member wants it he can read it in The Times of the following day where the case was reported in extenso. It is not customary to publish judicial judgments as White Papers for the House and that is why I have not published this. I said that the full Law Report would be available shortly. I understand that the Report is in the post but I cannot say when it will arrive.

Mr. Fraser

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have read The Times law report and several other newspaper reports? Is he aware that if one reads several newspaper reports one reads reports which are clearly biased according to the political attitude of the newspaper publishing them?

Mr. W. Hamilton

And The Times.

Mr. Fraser

I would remind the Minister that The Times is for top people and we are not concerned just for top people in this country. Is not it a responsibility of Her Majesty's Government to make this objective analysis of industry available to all people throughout the country?

Mr. Heath

Whatever the hon. Member may think about newspapers, this is the first time that I have heard anybody question the objectivity of The Times law reports. As I have said, the Report in extenso will be available soon in the Library.