§ 42. Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilsonasked the Minister of Power whether he has yet approved the investment programme of the British Steel Corporation; and if he wil make a statement.
§ Mr. FreesonMy right hon. Friend is considering it now.
§ Mr. McNair-WilsonWould not the hon. Gentleman agree that the N.B.P.I. Report on steel prices is a monstrous intereference with the commercial practice of the British Steel Corporation? What effect does he think it will have on the investment programme which his right hon. Friend is currently drawing up?
§ Mr. FreesonMy right hon. Friend will make a further statement on the Report to the House as soon as possible. In the meantime, I comment in a similar spirit to that in which I answered the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley): I would not accept the hon. Gentleman as the best spokesman for the publicly-owned steel industry.