§ 20. Mr. David Watkinsasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will issue a general direction to British Airways to present him with proposals for the reorganisation of management on industrial common ownership principles.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisNo, Sir, but I am considering how industrial democracy might be best applied in British Airways.
§ Mr. WatkinsIs my hon. Friend aware that what is proposed in the Question is a more democratic system of management than anything proposed in the Bullock Report and is especially suitable to publicly-owned industry, of which British Airways is such an outstanding example?
§ Mr. DavisPresent experience is confined to small and medium-sized firms rather than to major nationalised industries, but my hon. Friend's comments will be taken into account.
§ Mr. TebbitWould the Minister like to know that I agree with the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. Watkins) that such a structure would be much more democratic than the structure envisaged in the Bullock Report? If the Minister changes his mind and gives such a direction, will he ask the board of British Airways to recommend where employees are to raise the capital to purchase British Airways from the taxpayer?
§ Mr. DavisI am gratified that the hon. Gentleman has some form of agreement with my hon. Friend the Member for Consett (Mr. Watkins) in making more democratic the structure of the management board of British Airways. However, the hon. Gentleman's concluding remarks were a littte cynical and not at all constructive.