§ 7. Mr. Palmerasked the Secretary of State for Industry, what correspondence he has had with the directors of the General Electric Co. Ltd., concerning the implementation of the recommendations of the Finniston committee on the engineering profession.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallUnless letters were published by the sender, we regard all the correspondence we have received on the Finniston report as confidential.
§ Mr. PalmerIs the hon. Gentleman aware that it has been widely stated in the technical and educational press that Lord Weinstock and the General Electric company have greatly influenced the decision of the Government not to bring in legislation to implement the Finniston report?
§ Mr. MarshallThe hon. Gentleman will be aware that, as legal action has been initiated in that case, I cannot comment on the circumstances of the GEC correspondence, as I have explained. I hope that he will recognise that, as we hope to be pulling together our final conclusions on the negotiations, I do not wish to prejudice that either.
§ Mr. McQuarrieI must declare an interest in the question, as I am a member of the council of the Society of Engineers. Although that correspondence is confidential, can my hon. Friend tell me whether there is a reference to the timing of setting up the general council proposed under the Finniston report?
§ Mr. MarshallI hope that my hon. Friend will forgive me, but I do not think that it is right to give details of that correspondence. He will be aware that we are pursuing the setting up of the council as a matter of urgency. We appreciate the constructive views that we have had from my hon. Friend among others.