HC Deb 16 February 1965 vol 706 cc981-2
1. Mr. Walter Harrison

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to require the electricity boards not to reduce the scope or operations of their contracting sections, and to take steps to correct the loss of contracting work to private enterprise in recent years.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Power (Mr. John Morris)

No, Sir. There is no general tendency for the electricity boards to reduce the contracting activities they carry on in competition with private enterprise.

Mr. Harrison

Is my hon. Friend aware that personnel in the contract department of the London Electricity Board has diminished by 500 in the last two years? Surely this is creeping denationalisation.

Mr. Morris

I gave a reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 18th December, that there appears to have been no significant reduction over the last three years in the number of manual workers employed in contract, sale and fitting. But the special contract section of the London Electricity Board is a special case, and my right hon. Friend is willing to discuss with the board any special questions arising from the decision about the section, and it would be helpful if my hon. Friend could give my right hon. Friend details of any such special questions he thinks should be pursued.