§ Q6. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of Lord Balogh as Minister of State, Department of Energy, within the Government.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Minister of State in the Department of Energy will act as the Secretary of State's deputy and deal with all matters concerning the Department in the House of Lords. He will also take a particular interest in that part of the Department of Energy which is concerned with the development of a strategic approach to energy problems.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs Lord Balogh there primarily in an advisory capacity, or has he any executive powers? What steps does my right hon. Friend think are desirable to transfer a much greater part of the decision-making to Scotland than has hitherto been acceptable?
§ The Prime MinisterMy noble Friend is serving as a Minister of State and not in an advisory capacity. I think it is fair to say that he was very critical of previous Governments, of both parties, on the matter of North Sea gas and oil. My own view is that he was right when he criticised both those Governments—our own and the Conservative Government which followed. So far as Scottish responsibility is concerned, I gave a pledge during the election that there would be an elected Minister from a Scottish constituency in charge of these things, and two elected Members from Scotland are in the Energy Department.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorWould it not remove a lot of uncertainty about energy and oil if the Prime Minister could arrange for Lord Balogh—or any other energy Minister—to say clearly whether the Government have dropped their plans to nationalise North Sea oil?
§ The Prime MinisterI set out the position clearly and at some length during the debate on the Gracious Speech—some hon. Members thought I went on for too long on that subject—and we are now formulating our policy. The proposals that I made in Edinburgh and Glasgow on these matters are forming part of it.