HC Deb 16 February 1965 vol 706 cc998-1000
8. Mr. Ian Gilmour

asked the Minister of Power if he will give an assurance that the National Coal Board will not be permitted to produce mining equipment if the production of this equipment would result in unemployment in any existing firm currently producing equipment for the National Coal Board.

35. Mr. Varley

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the National Coal Board to make a comprehensive assessment of the engineering capacities of its central workshops and to make provision for the manufacturing of mining equipment in these establishments to an extent greater than exists at present.

Mr. John Morris

My right hon. Friend would not wish to restrict the Board's freedom to produce such machinery and equipment as may appear to it to be advantageous and I do not think it needs any direction from my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Gilmour

Is not the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the wording of the Labour Party's manifesto has already caused great anxiety amongst firms making this mining equipment? Is it not high time that he did something to dispel this anxiety?

Mr. Morris

It is for the National Coal Board in the first instance to say whether it wishes to extend its manufacturing activities under its existing powers.

Mr. William Hamilton

Will my hon. Friend give an assurance that, far from restricting the activities of the Board in this direction, he will seek energetically to expand them, particularly in areas like my own which are suffering from very high unemployment?

Mr. Morris

My right hon. Friend will be prepared to consider any proposals put to him in any case where Ministerial approval is needed; but, as I have said, the Board has the power and is anxious to help in reducing regional unemployment. It does so by operating the contracts preference scheme, under which tenders from firms in development districts are accepted, other things being equal.

Mr. Ridley

Would not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that there is no point whatsoever in duplicating manufacturing resources which already exist? We ask him not to pursue this doctrinaire line of thought. Will he give an undertaking to the House that he will withdraw his election pledge, which has no point?