20. Mr. Thomeasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will conduct a general review of the operation of nationalised industries within his responsibility, in the light of his commitment to promote industrial democracy.
§ Mr. VarleyThe Government are committed to the extension of industrial democracy in the public sector, as in the private. Sector plans for the nationalised energy industries need careful formulation and will be introduced only after the fullest consultation with all concerned. These consultations have already begun.
§ Mr. ThorneI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, little of which I heard. Does he believe that the restructuring of the National Coal Board would have a salutary effect on the production of coal later in the year or early in 1975?
§ Mr. VarleyWe are prepared to listen to all representations from all the nationalised energy industries about extending industrial democracy. If we have representations from the National Coal Board or the National Union of Mine-workers, we shall take then into consideration as well.