HC Deb 18 November 1964 vol 702 cc419-21
13. Mr. Lubbock

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will now publish the Corbett Report on the British Overseas Airways Corporation.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

Having read the Corbett Report for myself, I can assure the House that there is little of substance in it with which it is not already familiar from the thorough investigation of the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries. It is nevertheless a fact that when Mr. Corbett was asked to undertake this inquiry he was told that it would … be regarded as private and confidential". This was the basis on which he took evidence from the various people with whom he discussed the problems of the Corporations. Moreover the Report as it stands contains a certain amount of information which would, in any case, have to continue to be treated as confidential for commercial reasons.

In view of all this, and bearing in mind that the Report is now nearly 18 months old and that what we want most of all is an end to the controversies and recriminations which have gone on between British Overseas Airways Corporation and the Government during the past year, I am convinced that the balance of argument is against publication. In any case, I should not consider the cost of publication a justifiable public expenditure at the present stage.

I have, however, told Sir Giles Guthrie that he should now feel free to show his copy of the Report to senior members of British Overseas Airways Corporation, whose range of duties lies within the scope of the Report.

Mr. Lubbock

Does the Minister appreciate that many of the criticisms in the Corbett Report are shown by the Select Committee to be completely unfounded? Will he now congratulate Sir Matthew Slattery on the excellent results achieved under his chairmanship and, in particular, on the wonderful profit and loss account that has just been produced?

Mr. Jenkins

I think that Sir Matthew Slattery will already have found, in many of the comments published on recent results, a substantial note of congratulation, which I certainly share.

Mr. Maude

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we welcome what we regard as his very well justified decision, as there are obviously certain things in this Report that would be commercially valuable to competitors of B.O.A.C.? Is he aware that one of the purposes in setting up this inquiry was, in his own words, to end "recriminations and controversies" that had previously taken place, and that this is surely the main achievement of this Report?

Mr. Jenkins

Yes, but the hon. Gentleman will note that I did not underline the judgment that it was right to set up this secret inquiry in the first place. I do not think, whatever the intention was, that, during the time it took place, the existence of the inquiry helped to do away with the atmosphere of recrimination.