§ Mr. Grocottasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when the National Consumer Council report of its review of consumer representation in the nationalised industries will be published.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe report will be published today. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.
I have already conveyed to Mr. Michael Young my thanks to him and the members of his council and staff for what I regard as a very thorough and impressive report. The Government will be giving its recommendations serious thought in the light of their general 693W examination of the problems of nationalised industries, taking into account also the results of the industrial democracy study and of the National Economic Development Office's examination of the role of nationalised industries in the economy and their relationship with Government, when these are available.
Certain recommendations in the report, relating to appointments to the nationalised industry consumer councils, reflect changes in practice which I have already introduced. These changes are designed to strengthen further the membership of the councils, and I intend to proceed with them.
Meanwhile, I am seeking the views of those most closely affected, including the councils themselves, on the report's other recommendations, most of which involve legislation. I should be glad to receive by the end of September comments on the recommendations from other organisations or individuals.