The Earl of MANSFIELDasked His Majesty's Government whether the annual profits made, or losses sustained, by the National Coal Board are to be published in full; whether it is realized that the present policy of refusal to answer questions asked in Parliament regarding salaries, and numbers and costs of mansions and motor-cars acquired by the Board, is strengthening the already widespread belief that its administration is both inefficient and grossly extravagant; and when this totalitarian doctrine of bureaucratic privilege is to be abandoned.
§ Lord CHORLEYThe National Coal Board's annual accounts will be laid before each House of Parliament. They are to be in a form conforming with the best commercial standards and will certainly provide adequate information of the profits made or losses sustained by the Board. His Majesty's Government do not accept the conclusions and implications in the second and third parts of the question. The particular matters to which the noble Lord refers are matters of detailed administration, which are the responsibility of the Board. It is not the Government's policy to intervene in such matters or to seek to justify in Parliament the course pursued by the Board in individual cases. There will however be the opportunity for a general review of the Board's administration when the Board's accounts and annual report are presented.
329WAI would further remind the noble Earl that the Board themselves have given information to the Press about the cost of certain country mansions which they, like other business undertakings, have acquired for office accommodation, and about the number of motor cars they have acquired. A copy of the Board's statement on the latter subject was published in the OFFICIAL REPORT with a written answer to a question by the noble Lord on November 19 last. The salaries of Board members have been published. It is not the practice of comparable commercial or public undertakings to publish the salaries of employees.