HC Deb 23 November 1965 vol 721 c218
4. Sir R. Nugent

asked 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 Lee

No, Sir.

Sir R. Nugent

Is 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. Lee

To 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.