HC Deb 15 November 1966 vol 736 cc206-8
15. Mr. Palmer

asked the Minister of Power why he appointed Lord Melchett as chairman of the present organising committee and as the intended chairman of the proposed National Steel Corporation.

27. Mr. Dempsey

asked the Minister of Power what qualifications and aptitudes he took into consideration when appointing the chairman of the Steel Industry Organising Committee; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Marsh

I have appointed Lord Melchett because I am satisfied that his experience and capacity in industrial commercial and financial matters provide quite outstanding qualifications for these posts.

Mr. Palmer

Would not my right hon. Friend accept that there is a great deal of first-class technical and administrative talent within the existing nationalised industries? Was it not possible to make an appointment from the public sector without going to financial circles? Does that not show a kind of inferiority on the part of public enterprise in the face of private enterprise?

Mr. Marsh

No. There is no question of inferiority in this. One seeks the best people who, together, make a team for a board. There will be technical and scientific people on the National Steel Corporation. I thought that the chairman needed particular qualifications. If someone else had been choosing the members of the Board, different people might have been chosen.

Mr. Clark Hutchison

May I ask why this gentleman was appointed before the Bill has gone through Parliament? Why do Socialists ignore the rights of Parliament?

Mr. Marsh

I am sure right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite will be aware that there is an old Fabian motto about the inevitability of gradualness and eventually it will be law.

Mr. Barber

Will the right hon. Gentleman not confirm that, whatever his wishes may have been, he had to go to the City of London and the private enterprise steel industry to find the best men?

Mr. Marsh

There will be people on the Corporation who do not come from either the private steel industry or the City of London. It will be a balanced Board. On this Question, we are talk- ing purely about the chairman, and his qualifications stand up to any sort of examination.

16. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Minister of Power what representations he has received regarding Her Majestys' Government's appointment of Lord Melchett as chairman of the Organising Committee for the steel industry.

Mr. Marsh

Four from local Labour parties: four from members of the public.

Mr. Roberts

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is very strong feeling on this side of the House that Lord Melchett lacks the two essentials for this type of job: first of all, a thorough knowledge of the industry itself; and, secondly and even more important, sympathy with the aims of Socialist ownership?

Mr. Marsh

As I am sure my hon. Friend will be aware, Lord Melchett has for some considerable time been a member of a Board of a nationalised industry. I should have thought that that did not show outstanding hostility to the principle of public ownership.