§ Q3. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister what plans Her Majesty's Government have for requesting the continued services of Dr. Beeching when his period of service with the Railways Board comes to an end.
§ The Prime MinisterHer Majesty's Government have no plans for the future employment of Dr. Beeching after he leaves the British Railways Board. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport told the House on 23rd December, it is Dr. Beeching's wish to return to Imperial Chemical Industries later this year.
§ Mr. HamiltonWould not my right hon. Friend agree that it would be a very great pity if the nation lost the services of this very able gentleman? Would my right hon. Friend direct his attention to a leading article in the Financial Times of 11th February which talked about the agricultural industry needing a thorough investigation? Is he aware that Dr. Beeching seems to me to be the man for the job?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is always interesting to try to speculate what supplementary question my hon. Friend really has in mind. So far as Dr. Beeching is concerned, while the whole House will wish him all success on the resumption of his activities with Imperial Chemical Industries, I am sure that at suitable 1359 times—in view of his vast experience in both industrial and public services—were there any invitations that any of us wanted to make to him to serve the nation in any capacity, those invitations could be put forward.