HC Deb 04 December 1951 vol 494 cc213-4W
65. Mr. Nicholson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it will be possible for him to announce the steps he intends to take in order to bring the accounts of nationalised industries and corporations within the scrutiny of this House.

Mr. R. A. Butler

The present arrangements provide that the accounts of the nationalised industries are presented to Parliament, and it is open to the Public Accounts Committee to examine them. Before making proposals for further measures to bring those accounts within the scrutiny of the House, I would prefer to wait until the House has had an opportunity of examining the Report of the Select Committee which is at present considering the methods by which the House of Commons is informed of the affairs of the nationalised industries, and what changes, having regard to the provisions laid down by Parliament in the relevant statutes, may he desirable in these methods.