HC Deb 13 March 1969 vol 779 cc1554-6
Q1. Mr. St. John-Stevas

asked the Prime Minister whether he will co-ordinate the work of the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, the Minister of Technology and the President of the Board of Trade in relation to the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

The Industrial Reorganisation Corporation falls within the responsibilities of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, who works in close consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and the Minister of Technology and any others of my right hon. Friends who may be concerned.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

Since I have been unable to obtain satisfaction from this unholy Ministerial trinity on the proposed take-over bid of the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation for Brown Bayley, and in view of the effects of this on my constituents, will the Prime Minister take personal responsibility for this matter and pay a visit to Chelmsford, which will at least avoid his being upstaged yet again by the Leader of the Opposition, who is coming to Chelmsford next month?

The Prime Minister

That would be the last thing that would concern me.

To answer the more serious part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question—I recognise his great concern over this; indeed, I have read the statement which he issued a month or so ago about his anxieties—this stems from the decision of the I.R.C. to help to integrate the British ball-bearing industry, a step which is necessary. As for the hon. Gentleman not being satisfied, I have read what he said, but I should have thought that the reply of my right hon. Friend would have assuaged some of his anxieties.

Sir G. Nabarro

Having regard to the further deterioration in the trade figures and the regression in the February outturn, how can the right hon. Gentleman argue that the I.R.C., with its tripartite control, is proving successful?

The Prime Minister

The I.R.C. was set up by statute with power to take its own decision in these matters. The hon. Gentleman—who will, no doubt, take some satisfaction in the longer term from the trend of exports, whatever may happen in one month—will, I am sure, be prepared, with his customary generosity, to pay tribute to what the I.R.C. has done in restructuring some of our export industries.