§ 15. Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to meet the chairman of the National Coal Board to discuss the external finance limit for the industry for this financial year.
§ Mr. John MooreI have frequent meetings with the chairman of the NCB to discuss the board's progress with its financial strategy.
§ Mr. McNair-WilsonFollowing my right hon. Friend's reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove and Redditch (Mr. Miller), may I ask whether he is aware that there is a widely held belief that the very tight EFLs are being passed on to the consumers in the form of higher prices? Does legislative machinery exist to prevent that?
§ Mr. MooreWe have the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. I cannot give my hon. Friend any further information at the moment, but we shall contact him to tell him whether there are other processes that can be used.
§ Mr. PalmerWhy should productive investment by nationalised industries be subject to Treasury restrictions?
§ Mr. MooreWith respect, I do not regard the ability to watch the ways in which public money is spent and the attempt to keep normal control on it as in any way restrictive. Investment is provided, and it is the job of Government to make sure that it is wisely and properly spent.