§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy 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 it is their intention to make a considered statement on the recommendations contained in the Report of the National Consumer Council entitled Consumers and the Nationalised Industries together with the action intended and, if so, when this statement may be expected.
Lord ORAMMy Lords, the Government will make a full Statement when consultations have been completed with those most affected by the Report's recommendations. I cannot at this stage, therefore, comment on specific recommendations; neither can I give a precise indication of the likely timing of the Government's Statement.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, I am sure that the Minister will agree that that is not a very helpful Answer. May I ask the Minister whether he recalls that Her Majesty the Queen's gracious Speech states:
My Government will continue to attach high priority to safeguarding the interests of consumers".In view of that statement, would the Minister let me know when it would be in order to put down another Question?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I will certainly speak to my noble friend about the most suitable timetable for her pursuit of these matters. I assure her that the phrase in the gracious Speech is genuine. I have assured my noble friend, and I assure her now, that I personally take a 414 close interest in this Report, which is, indeed, a most important one. I will willingly collaborate with my noble friend in ensuring that a proper airing is given to its proposals.
§ Lord POPPLEWELLMy Lords, can my noble friend say whether it is anticipated that the Government will make their Statement before the end of the inquiry that is now being made by the Nationalised Industries Committee in the other place, who are discussing certain of these factors? Will the Government wait for the issue of the Committee's report before they make their Statement?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, my noble friend is quite right to point to the connection between the National Consumer Council's Report and two other interesting reports. It may be helpful if I quote from a Written Reply in another place which the Prime Minister gave recently. Referring to the report on nationalised industries by the National Economic Development Office the Prime Minister said:
We shall publish our conclusions"—that is, on that report—next year in a White Paper, which will also take account of our decisions on board structure, following the study of industrial democracy in the nationalised industries and on related recommendations in the National Consumer Council's Report on Consumers and the Nationalised Industries".Although there is this connection with two other reports, it does not preclude individual attention being given to the National Consumer Council's Report to which my noble friend Lady Burton has called attention.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, may I ask the Minister whether he will bear in mind the possible connection between all the points he has mentioned and the Motion in the Minutes in the No Day Named section?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I have indeed noticed that Motion and if my noble friend makes progress with it I, as well as she, will be pleased.
§ Lord ROCHESTERMy Lords, in relation to the National Economic Development Office report to which he has referred, is the noble Lord aware that 415 although its main recommendation is that a policy council should be interposed between the executive board of each industry and the responsible Minister, it, too, recommends that there should be consumer representatives on those policy councils? If I may respectfully say so, given that the main justification for nationalising certain interests is said to be that they should be run in the interests of the community as a whole, is it not about time that that objective should be reflected, preferably in agreement with other parties, in those industries being organised in a way which takes more adequate account of the consumer interest?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, rather than deal with this kind of issue at Question Time, I think that we should await the fuller debates which are thought of and the White Paper which the Prime Minister indicated. However, I certainly take note of the noble Lord's observations.
§ Lord HARMAR-NICHOLLSMy Lords, before we have the fuller debate on the White Paper, could the Government define the phrase "industrial democracy"—what it means and how the Government intend it to be taken?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, there is a distinguished committee meeting under the chairmanship of the noble Lord, Lord Bullock. I have little doubt that they will turn their attention to the problem to which the noble Lord has called our attention.