HC Deb 01 March 1976 vol 906 cc907-8
16. Mr. Nelson

asked the Secretary of State for Industry which companies have been approached by his Department with a view to setting up planning agreements.

23. Mr. Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what discussions are currently taking place between his Department and industry with a view to concluding planning agreements.

Mr. Kaufman

My Department is continuing its exploratory discussions with a number of leading companies in manufacturing industry, following discussions with representatives of both sides of industry. My right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position to make a statement shortly.

Mr. Nelson

Is the Minister aware that one reason why many companies are unwilling to enter into planning agreements lies in the fact that they feel that by handing over commercial information to the Government they may be committing suicide? Will he comment on the alarming contents of the guidelines to the National Enterprise Board, under paragraph 26 of which companies are to supply confidential information to the Government—information which, in turn, may be fed to the NEB to enable the Board to take the initiative?

Mr. Kaufman

The hon. Gentleman should know that a vast amount of confidential commercial information is passed to Governments all the time, with or without planning agreements. Massive amounts of commercial information were passed to the Conservative Government under the Industry Act 1972. In this case it will be a voluntary passing on of information, to enable sensible planning agreements to take place with the present Government.

Mr. John Garrett

Will the Minister confirm or deny Press reports that the planning agreement system no longer requires companies proposing to enter into planning agreements to submit detailed corporate plans, but that the situation has now been changed to one in which there is little more than general discussion of a company's future?

Mr. Kaufman

I categorically deny those statements. There will have to be corporate plans under planning agreements, and the most detailed discussion will be followed by actual agreements lodged with the Department.

Mr. Heseltine

Is the Minister aware that the reason why he has not so far been able to announce any success for planning agreements, except in regard to companies that have no choice, is that the companies themselves are aware of the policy work being undertaken by the Labour Party policy committee, which is already planning the use of compulsory powers within the planning machinery? Will he give a categorical assurance that at the time of the next election there will be no revision of planning agreement arrangements which could convert existing discussions into much more compulsory ones?

Mr. Kaufman

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for accepting that after the next election we shall be in a position to carry out all our plans. The hon. Gentleman has taken off into orbit again—[HON. MEMBERS: "Answer the question."] I shall answer the question, if I am allowed to complete the sentence. The policy of the present Government on planning agreements is enshrined in the Industry Act 1975. Planning agreements are voluntary, and planning agreements made this year will be voluntary.