§ 4. Sir R. Nugentasked the Minister of Power whether he will introduce legislation to give himself the power to control the price of gas sold by area gas boards.
§ Mr. Frederick LeeNo, Sir.
§ Sir R. NugentIs the Minister aware that Parliament has not given him statutory powers to control the prices of the nationalised industries under his care? Will he, therefore, ask Parliament to give him such powers if he wants to control these prices? If not, will he refrain from doing so?
§ Mr. LeeTo answer the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I return to an earlier Answer. The method by which Parliament and the Government in fact condition these things is by the use of Command Paper 1337.