HC Deb 01 February 1966 vol 723 c870
18. Mr. Ioan L. Evans

asked the Minister of Power what plans he has for a co-ordinated national fuel and energy policy.

Mr. Frederick Lee

The White Paper on Fuel Policy published last October set out fully the principles underlying the Government's co-ordinated national fuel policy and the chief measures which we propose taking to put this policy into effect. I shall continue to keep under review the policy and its application.

Mr. Evans

In addition to co-ordinating production, should not my right hon. Friend also be co-ordinating distribution? Now that the coal, gas and electricity industries are under public ownership, can we look forward to the time when there will not be separate consumer fuel centres but co-ordinated gas, electricity and coal utilisation centres so that wasteful competition in advertising will not exist among the industries?

Mr. Lee

My hon. Friend may know that that subject has been surveyed by, I think, two committees in the course of the last few years, and they decided on balance that this was not a good thing to do. Distribution of gas and electricity is directed by the nationalised industries, and the Coal Board has the powers to do this if it wishes.

Mr. Peyton

Is the Minister aware that, broadly speaking, the White Paper on Fuel Policy which he produced follows up very largely the policy of the previous Administration and, largely, has our support? Is he also aware that he has our full sympathy, and that we very much hope that he will not be sacrificed on the altar of co-ordination, as was his right hon. Friend the erstwhile Minister of Transport?