§ 26. Mr. Peter Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will give a general direction to British Railways to sell their hotels.
§ Mr. MorrisonWhat are the hon. Gentleman's reasons for that reply? Is it simply that the hotels are the only profitable part of British Rail?
§ Mr. HoramThe hotels are extremely profitable, and I regard them as an excellent investment for the public sector. I deplore the continual denationalisation attempts from Opposition Members. Does this mean that they no longer believe in a mixed economy?
§ Mr. HefferDoes my hon. Friend agree that it would be a great shame if, for example, the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, which has always given excellent service, were taken out of public ownership? Is this hotel not a good example of the best type of public ownership?
§ Mr. HoramThe Adelphi is a splendid hotel and has been the scene of many Labour triumphs. My only preference, architecturally, is the Royal Station Hotel at York.
§ Mr. BagierWill my hon. Friend resist the modern-day Dick Turpins in the 466 Opposition and recall that they gave away to their friends the road haulage industry, Thomas Cook Limited, and the Carlisle State breweries? Does my hon. Friend agree that the Opposition always have their eyes on the profitable parts of the public sector? If they want a deal, let us offer them British Rail.
§ Mr. HoramI entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I wonder whether we can get some assurance from the Opposition that they really do believe in a mixed economy.
§ Mr. Norman FowlerIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in the transport consultation document it was said to be Government policy to extend nationalisation in the road haulage industry and the ports? Is that still Government policy, or do they believe that in the sort of economic crisis that we now face it would be in the nation's interest publicly to abandon such rubbish?