Nationalisation (Hansard, 27 February 1978)

§ 12. Mr. Fairbairn
asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement on the Government's agenda for nationalisation.

§ Mr. Kaufman
I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 9th February.

§ Mr. Fairbairn
Will the Minister give an assurance that there will be no more nationalisation of any kind proposed by the Government or his party?

§ Mr. Powell
Or by the Conservatives.

§ Mr. Fairbairn
If it is in order, I shall associate myself with the remark made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Down, South (Mr. Powell)—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. We are to have a debate on law and order later.

§ Mr. Fairbairn
Will the Minister give an assurance that there will be no more nationalisation, so that we do not have the sorry sight of the Secretary of State having to behave as he did today—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I thought that the hon. and learned Gentleman had sat down. This means that we shall lose a Question.

§ Mr. Fairbairn
Will the Minister of State give an assurance that we will have no more nationalisation, so that we shall not have the sorry sight of the Secretary of State having to come to the House with his petulant evasion as he did today—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. We heard that previously, I am sure.

§ Mr. Kaufman
I cannot give the hon. and learned Gentleman the assurance for which he asks because I am not yet aware of the contents of my party's manifesto. Nor am I aware of what would happen in the way of nationalisation if the Conservative Party were to come to power. With the Labour Party nationalisation is a fact, but with the Tory Party it is "any other business".