HC Deb 28 July 1971 vol 822 cc568-70
2. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a further statement on disposal of assets such as Thos. Cook and Son, railway hotels and other similar transport enterprises, and the sum that he anticipates realising in total, for replenishment of public funds in 1971–72 from disposal of such State assets.

Mr. Peyton

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow, East (Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson) on 7th July about the disposal of the Transport Holding Company's subsidiaries. The National Freight Corporation is continuing negotiations for the sale of its shipping interests. I cannot forecast how much is likely to be realised from disposals this year.—[Vol. 820, c. 374–5.]

Sir G. Nabarro

While warmly embracing my right hon. Friend and his denationalisation policies, may I reproach him for his inordinate slowness and lethargy in this matter? In case he is tempted to plead legislative indigestion in the forthcoming Session with Common Market Bills, will he consider allowing me to bring in a Private Member's Bill to denationalise these assets and give it his Ministerial respectability and support?

Mr. Peyton

Although I am most grateful for my hon. Friend's embraces, I hope that they can be allowed to remain metaphorical. As regards the disposal of Thomas Cook and Son, I can only tell him that I am very ready to take action as soon as the legislative programme allows——

Sir G. Nabarro

What about my Private Member's Bill?

Mr. Peyton

—and I am sure that my hon. Friend will be the first to realise the immense amount of good works to which this Government have put their hand during the Session, which have constituted some obstacle to what he has in mind.

Mr. Milne

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the British travel trade has troubles enough of its own at the moment without his adding to them, and will this not make him and his Department look again at the policy of hiving off publicly-owned travel agents at this stage, realising that they have already put the clock back enough, without making matters even worse?

Mr. Peyton

I wish that the hon. Gentleman would not tempt me into giving answers which are only too easy. One of the reasons determining the Government's policy in getting rid of Thomas Cook and Son was that in public hands it has not been doing well enough.

Mr. Jopling

Will my right hon. Friend tell any prospective purchaser of Thomas Cook and Son that he need not expect to have a monopoly of travel business in this Palace?

Mr. Peyton

I very much doubt that anyone will aspire to a monopoly of travel business here; the responsibility is altogether too great.

Mr. Bradley

In view of the right hon. Gentleman's earlier rebuke to me, I ask him as calmly as I can to take this opportunity to confirm that it is not the Government's intention to hive off the British Rail hotels, which also are mentioned in the Question.

Sir G. Nabarro

Of course it is.

Mr. Peyton

I am only too anxious to reciprocate the hon. Gentleman's calmness. If the Government came to the conclusion that it was in the national interest to hive off British Transport Hotels, they would do that. At this moment, we have not reached that decision, although the hon. Gentleman could well push up into it.