HL Deb 31 January 1978 vol 388 cc654-5

2.43 p.m.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

My 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, in view of their Statement on 14th November last that progress had been made on the proposed White Paper dealing with the report of the National Consumer Council entitled Consumers and the Nationalised Industries published in August 1976, a date can now be given for publication of the White Paper.

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, I regret that I cannot go further than the earlier reply to my noble friend. The Government still hope to publish a White Paper responding to this report and to that of the National Economic Development Office as soon as possible, but as yet no definite date has been set for publication. However, I can assure my noble friend that progress has been made since last November, both on the White Paper and on the implementation of some of the report's recommendations. I am sure that my noble friend will have welcomed the Government's announcement of the appointments of two consumer members to the newly-reorganised Post Office Board.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

My Lords, I wonder whether my noble friend would not agree that we have been trying to track down this elusive date for a very long time but that at some time, doubtless, the House must know of it. May I ask—for, while I am delighted that two consumer representatives have been appointed to the Post Office Board, what I am after is the date of this report—whether it is possible that she and my noble friend Lord Oram can give matters a push so that we may know the date a little earlier than is anticipated?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, I have been trying to give matters a little push this morning, without success, and I shall certainly invite the help of my noble friend Lord Oram when he returns.

Baroness MACLEOD of BORVE

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that the National Consumer Council was set up in March 1974 and that all those who work in the consumer field of the nationalised industries are urgently awaiting the results of this report? Will she, perhaps, give a second push where it hurts?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, I shall have to take the advice of the noble Baroness as to the best place to push. We are anxious that we should have this report as soon as possible. There have to be a lot of consultations about it and it involves a number of Departments. I can only ask the House to be patient for a little longer; and we will do what we can.