§ 12. Mr. Waldegraveasked the Secretary of State for Energy when last he met the chairman of the Electricity Council.
§ Mr. Norman LamontMy right hon. Friend and I keep in close touch with the chairman of the Electricity Council and I met him last week.
§ Mr. WaldegraveNext time my hon. Friend meets the chairman, will he consider telling him that the Government have abandoned Lord Plowden's plans for the reorganisation and centralisation of the electricity supply industry as being an unnecessary hangover of a now defunct fashion for centralisation?
§ Mr. LamontMy right hon. Friend has already made a statement on the reorganisation of the industry. He has indicated his preference for seeking desirable changes without legislation if that is possible. However, he also said that legislation was not ruled out if it proved to be necessary. I shall certainly bear in mind my hon. Friend's views as he has considerable experience in this industry.