NATIONALISED INDUSTRIES (Hansard, 21 July 1977)

§ Q5. Mr. Mike Thomas
asked the Prime Minister when he last met the chairmen of nationalised industries.

§ The Prime Minister
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council gave on my behalf to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson) on 10th March.

§ Mr. Thomas
When my right hon. Friend next meets the chairmen of the nationalised industries, what reassurance will he be able to give them that the Government will be keeping an eye on private sector wage settlements over the next 12 months? Is it not remarkable, that those who are constantly bleating about Government interference are terrified when it appears that the Government are no longer holding their hand in respect of wages?

§ The Prime Minister
There is a responsibility upon employers as well as upon trade unions, as I emphasised in yesterday's debate. Employers may not like the sharp wind of not being able to shelter under a nationally agreed wages policy, but it is now for them to stand up and indicate to their workers what can be paid and what is proper to be paid. A great many company employers would get on a lot better if only they would adopt the system of planning agreements, under which the workers in their companies would know a lot more about the real prospects for their own industries.

§ Mr. Hugh Fraser
Will the Prime Minister consider the attitude of the Chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board after the right hon. Gentleman has made complete nonsense of the power industry? Will he consider dismissing him? At the same time will he consider making every Liberal Member a Privy Councillor, to balance severity with mercy and cement the support that they have given to a Socialist Government?

§ The Prime Minister
I know that the Liberal Party often strikes sparks, but I am not sure what connection there is between it and the Central Electricity Generating Board. As for the Board, I hope that there will he a return to the proposal for a consistent and steady ordering programme. That would be invaluable to the future of the power plant industry, which this country needs. I think that it is short-sighted that it has not been able to agree on a restructuring so far. The Government must continue to press it. As for making Members of the 1847 Liberal Party Privy Councillors, I shall certainly be glad to consider that proposition. I notice that every time we have a vote of confidence the majority increases. I am delighted to see that.

§ Mr. John Mendelson
In view of the developing anxiety in the House that the Government, and the Prime Minister in particular, should restrain the chairmen of nationalised industries from looking at demands for wage increases even before negotiations have started, would it not be much better if Liberal Members in particular urged my right hon. Friend to leave responsible trade unionists and their employers to get on with the negotiations in the traditional manner?

§ The Prime Minister
I am much in favour of their getting on with the negotiations in a traditional manner. I must also ask them to accept and work within the general guidelines that the Chancellor laid down last Friday.

§ Mrs. Winifred Ewing
When the Prime Minister next meets the Chairman of British Rail, will he again say how unsatisfactory was the answer given yesterday by the Secretary of State for Transport about the old rolling stock that is dumped in Scotland from south of the border, except, of course, when there are important oil exhibitions in the North-East of Scotland, when it is important to borrow expensive rolling stock from the English services to convince business men that that is what Scotland normally has? Is it not time that the Prime Minister took very seriously the run-down of British Rail in Scotland from the point of view of tourism and passengers, and much more seriously than his right hon. Friend did yesterday?

§ The Prime Minister
I am not acquainted with this matter.