§ Q7. Mr. Peytonasked the Prime Minister what advice or instructions he gave to the leaders of the fuel industries when he met them on 17th November; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the statement issued from 10, Downing Street on 17th November, 1965, a copy of which is in the Library.
§ Mr. PeytonWill the Prime Minister reflect on the paucity of that Answer? Does not he agree that he was wasting the time of these people, who are already under considerable pressure, and does not he agree further that the intervention of Prime Ministers in the affairs of nationalised industries makes the almost impossible task of these chairmen worse than it is? Is it not wholly wrong to indulge in what appears to have been a short-term exercise conducted for public relations reasons?
§ The Prime MinisterThere was great concern about the reasons for the power cuts, and one object of my meeting was to establish clearly what they were. If the hon. Gentleman is prepared to do a deal with me that neither of us will interfere in the day-to-day operations of the nationalised industries, I am prepared to consider it with him.