§ 6. Mr. Sheldonasked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the refusal of members of the British Industrial Truck Association to give certain information to his Department.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Technology (Dr. Ernest A. Davies)There was no outright refusal by members of the British Industrial Truck Association to provide information to the Department, and a number of them co-operated very fully. The Association was, however, opposed to a comprehensive 890 survey of the industry that our officials proposed.
§ Mr. SheldonWill my hon. Friend accept that this non-co-operation by the association is a very poor example of how industry should co-operate with the Government to the advantage of both?
§ Dr. DaviesThe Department is very disappointed at the outcome of this matter. However, in many other areas there is a great deal of collaboration with member firms of the association, and it works very well as a general rule.
§ Sir K. JosephIs not this partial reluctance by an industry a note of warning to the Government to get their inquiry mania under control and return to the basic incentives of competition and tax reform?
§ Dr. DaviesI could not accept the suggestion that there is a mania of the kind that the right hon. Gentleman describes. As I said in answer to my hon. Friend, generally there is a good collaborative atmosphere between B.I.T.A. and the Minstry.