§ Q6. Mr. Martenasked the Prime Minister what proposals the Government now have for further nationalisation.
§ The Prime MinisterSo far as this Session is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the Gracious Speech made at the Opening of Parliament on 21st April. So far as this Parliament is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the manifesto on which my hon. and right hon. Friends and myself were elected to this House in the spring.
§ Mr. MartenIs the Prime Minister aware that the particular publication, the Labour Party manifesto, is a very discredited document on this side of the House? In the light of the resolution moved by the miners at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, and carried, that something should be done about nationalisation of oil and natural gas, will the Prime Minister give as an assurance that he will do no such stupid thing?
§ The Prime MinisterAs I have said, so far as this Session is concerned, we shall carry through the programme announced in the Gracious Speech this Session. So far as this Parliament is concerned, we shall carry out the programme and all the programme in this document, of which I will send the hon. Member a copy.
§ Mr. AtkinsonDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that the publication of the Plowden Report relative to the aircraft industry brings into much urgent light the whole question of public ownership of that industry? Would he like to reflect on the Answer he has given?
§ The Prime MinisterThat was, in fact, published before the last election and before the manifesto was issued.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyIs it not a fact that any future nationalisation could take 1149 place through the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation, bearing in mind that nationalisation is now a dirty word?
§ The Prime MinisterThis was very fully discussed on Second Reading of the I.R.C. Bill, and I think even those hon. Members who have the most backwoods ideas were satisfied by the statement of my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. GrimondAre we to take it from the Prime Minister's earlier reply that the Labour Party manifesto is still in all respects the policy of Her Majesty's Government?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir, certainly, and I shall be very glad to send a copy to the right hon. Gentleman as well so that he may study it.
§ Mr. WoodburnWhen my right hon. Friend is considering this question, will he look at all the things which the party opposite have nationalised and see whether all the conditions were not far too extravagant when they took them over under their Government?
§ The Prime MinisterI am not sure that there is a lot to learn either on the question of nationalisation or denationalisation from the record of hon. Members opposite.
§ Sir T. BeamishSo far as the long-term thinking of the party opposite is concerned, is not the answer to this question to be found in Highgate Cemetery?
§ The Prime MinisterI thought that I had answered that question before the hon. and gallant Gentleman put it, and I had answered it at Brighton.
§ Mr. ShinwellHas it occurred to my right hon. Friend that, if by any mischance we decided to go into the Common Market, we should have to ask for the consent of Bonn, Brussels and General de Gaulle before we could nationalise?
§ The Prime MinisterWhile always recognising the very deep study which my right hon. Friend has given to these problems, on this particular issue the advice he has given the House is not correct. There is nothing in the Treaty of Rome to bar or ban nationalisation.
§ Mr. Robert CookeHas the Prime Minister seen that recently in America 1150 his Minister of Transport committed the Government to the nationalisation of car parks?
§ The Prime MinisterI have seen a lot of accounts of discussions of my right hon. Friend in America, and some of them were extremely inaccurate and twisted versions of what she said. My right hon. Friend is certainly very concerned, as her predecessors have been, about the creation of more publicly-owned car parks.
§ Dr. GrayDoes not my right hon. Friend consider that the taking of privately-owned water undertakings into public ownership is urgent? As an example of this, the Blofield and Flegg Rural District Council installed bathrooms and lavatories—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The Chair must hear about this rural district council.
§ Dr. GrayAs an example of this, the Blofield and Flegg Rural District Council installed bathrooms and lavatories in council houses at the village of Clippsby which are without piped water after a year?
§ The Prime MinisterUnfortunately, in the noise with which the House greeted this important pronouncement, I missed the name of the particular rural district council. If my hon. Friend will give me details, I will certainly look into it. On the question of water generally, whether for the general use of the public or the more specialised use which my hon. Friend described, I have nothing either to add to or subtract from the manifesto to which I referred.