§ Q1. Mr. Corbettasked the Prime Minister when he last met the heads of nationalised industries.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. James Callaghan)I met some of the chairmen of the nationalised industries on 8th November.
§ Mr. CorbettWhen my right hon. Friend next meets them, will he make it clear to Sir Frank McFadzean that people generally take a dim view of the boss of a State industry turning round and biting the hand that feeds him? Does he agree that it is the role of the chiefs of these public industries to sustain and promote those industries and the jobs within them rather than act as some subversive agency for the private sector?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. I read Sir Frank McFadzean's speech with some interest. He only recently took up an appointment with British Airways under the Labour Government and he has already proposed a scheme for reorganisation, which has been put to the Ministers whom he criticises so heavily and has been accepted. Having known him for a long time, my own view of Sir Frank is that he is a most efficient business man but has an abysmal ignorance about either politics or government.
§ Mr. AdleyWill the Prime Minister tell Sir Frank that large numbers of his employees have recently twice come to this House to protest about the imposition of the closed shop upon all employees of British Airways and that they have been refused a meeting by top management to discuss the issue, have been refused access to the correspondence columns of British Airways News and have been refused a ballot? Whilst most people will wholeheartedly disagree with the views expressed by the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett), nevertheless many people feel that it is up to the bosses of nationalised industries to ensure that they discover the views of their employees before pronouncing on them.
§ The Prime MinisterI am sorry if the hon. Gentleman is criticising Sir Frank's knowledge of industrial relations or how 1560 he carries them out. I agree with the hon. Member that it is important that Sir Frank should be keenly aware of these matters, and I will see that what the hon. Gentleman has said is drawn to his attention.
§ Mr. David SteelWill the Prime Minister tell the House whether he is still hell-bent on increasing the number of heads of nationalised industries that he must meet on any one occasion? What is the Government's intention on the future of the ship-repairing industry if the other place maintains its view?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not know what the other place will do. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman is in league with it—
§ The Prime Minister—and can tell us. It would be a great departure from the traditions of the Liberal Party if it were to be in league with that Chamber. In relation to the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Bil, I hope that the other place will take into account that, whatever may be the merits of any other measure, this measure was put to the country in the fullest way on two occasions, in February and October 1974. that it passed through the House of Commons without one defeat on the issues now before us and that, therefore, an unelected Chamber has no right to take its own view on an issue of this sort which has been before the electors.
§ Mrs. ThatcherIs the Prime Minister aware that the choice whether to nationalise the shipbuilding and aerospace industries is his and that of his Government alone and that there is nothing that can now be done to stop him if he wishes to go ahead? If he chooses not to do it, may I congratulate him on taking the right approach? However, let it be understood that they have not been nationalised by his choice.
§ The Prime MinisterI am not sure what that convoluted question is supposed to mean. I totally disagree if it means that the elected Chamber should acquiesce in decisions taken by an unelected Chamber concerning items in a manifesto that has twice been put before the British people.