§ Q2. Mr. Douglasasked the Prime Minister if he will raise the topic of a Commonwealth organisation for the exploitation of energy resources at the next Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference.
§ The Prime MinisterI have no plans to raise this matter.
§ Mr. DouglasWill the Prime Minister reconsider that answer? Does he not agree that, in view of the threatened world energy shortage, energy policy is of unique importance? Does he not also agree that the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference would be an admirable forum to bring together the needs of the developing and developed nations on world energy problems?
§ The Prime MinisterI would not question the hon. Gentleman's statement about the vital importance of this matter, and I am aware that he has made a contribution to the subject by the publication of his own pamphlet. The matter may come up in the general discussion at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference on economic affairs and international affairs generally, but I do not think that the meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers is the right body to make decisions about energy policy or to implement them. It was in that sense that I was answering the Question.
§ Mr. RedmondDoes my right hon. Friend agree that we are in an energy crisis? Is not the Government's action over the coal industry right in giving the mining industry a future if the miners match the courage which they have shown during this last week with restraint? Is not this an opportunity for my right hon. Friend to pay tribute to the courage of the miners in Yorkshire for what they have done in the last week?
§ The Prime MinisterI have already paid my tribute publicly to the miners concerned. On the subject of coal, the Government are trying to achieve a balanced energy policy which is concerned not only with the immediate situation but also with longer-term developments, whether in the oil industry or the requirement for coal or in the future that we foresee for nuclear power.