§ Q1. Sir Knox Cunninghamasked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a Minister of State to the Ministry of Power in order to assist the task in Parliament of renationalising steel.
§ Q2. Mr. Ridleyasked the Prime Minister if he will appoint an additional Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Power to assume special responsibilities for the steel industry.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)I would refer hon. Members to the Answer I gave on 25th February to Questions by the hon. Members for Lowestoft (Mr. Prior) and Stroud (Mr. Kershaw).
§ Sir Knox CunninghamIf the Prime Minister will not appoint a Minister of State or Parliamentary Secretary, would he think of appointing a Minister since 1063 the present one seems to have sunk without trace?
§ The Prime MinisterWith respect, I think that the hon. and learned Gentleman is wasting the time of the House when there are many Members wishing to ask more important Questions. This Question was answered fully on 25th February. It has not taken the hon. and learned Gentleman three weeks to think up that particular witticism.
§ Mr. RidleyCan the Prime Minister confirm or deny the rumours going about that he is not to proceed with the nationalisation of steel?
§ Mr. SpeakerNot unless he can be shown to be responsible for the rumours.
§ Mr. RidleyMay I ask my supplementary question? [HON. MEMBERS: "No".] Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the only way that he will get a majority for the Second Reading is to appoint two extra Parliamentary Secretaries and then he could silence both of his hon. Friends the Members for Pembroke (Mr. Donnelly) and Bosworth (Mr. Wyatt)?
§ Mr. Iain MacleodWould the Prime Minister answer a simple and non-controversial question on this matter? I know that he is aware that, rightly or wrongly, there has been criticism of the amount of consultation which has taken place. That criticism has come from the House of Commons and from both sides of the steel industry. Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the amount of consultation which has taken place is adequate?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. My right hon. Friend is perfectly willing to meet anyone who wishes to be consulted on this question. He has been willing throughout, and if there has not been more consultation it is because it has not been asked for.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodIs the Prime Minister aware that there have been two consultations between the Minister of Power and the leaders of the steel industry? Will he answer my question: does he think that two consultations are enough?
§ The Prime MinisterI heard that question last time on 25th February. The right hon. Gentleman has not improved on it. My right hon. Friend has had more consultations and is prepared to have as many as are necessary provided it is not done in a time-wasting sense to hold up the Bill.