§ 11.20 a.m.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make arrangements for reimbursing a company for any expense reasonably incurred in compulsorily assembling and furnishing information when that information is not normally so assembled or needed in that form by the company.
§ Lord MELCHETTNo, my Lords.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, I am disappointed. Is the noble Lord aware that when I put this point in relation to the disclosure of information provisions in the Industry Bill, the Government's reply was that it should not be considered in isolation from the requirements of other legislation for the compulsory supply of information. Therefore, are not the Government now considering this subject as a whole?
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, I am not fully aware that that was the reply given to the noble Lord when this matter was discussed in Committee. The Government then said, first, that it would be quite unfair that the companies which failed in their duty to provide information voluntarily, and against whom the compulsory powers had therefore to be used, should be reimbursed for any expense that they incurred, when those companies which fulfilled their social duty voluntarily were not to be reimbursed. 1842 Secondly, it was said by the Government at Committee stage—and this is still the Government's view—that normally this information would be available to properly run companies. Therefore, very little, if any, expense would be incurred in providing it.
§ Baroness GAITSKELLMy Lords, is it not reasonable and to the advantage of the community that companies should be expected to furnish free the information which is needed for good industrial relations?
§ Lord MELCHETTYes, my Lords.
§ Lord WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, would Her Majesty's Government consider reimbursing the ordinary citizen for the trouble taken in filling up an income tax return?
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, are the Government aware that this Question does not relate to the production on a voluntary basis by many companies of information over a very wide range, nor to questions of industrial relations, as the noble Baroness has suggested? When the Government ask companies for information for the purpose of the national economy, wherever possible they will provide it. But there can be occasions during the course of their ordinary operations when companies will never have to assemble such information. It is these cases, which will not be frequent, which are the basis of this Question.
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, I am aware of that. I am also aware of the numerous precedents created both by this side of the House and by noble Lords opposite, under which companies have to provide information for the Government and no expenses are reimbursed.
Viscount ST. DAVIDSMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that Front Bench speakers on the Government side frequently answer questions with the reply that a particular answer is not available because it would be far too expensive to collect the details?