Private enterprise promised role

Press, 25 September 1984, Page 17

Private enterprise promised role

NZPA-Reuter London Britain’s Opposition Labour Party has promised a key role to private enterprise in, reshaping the economy if it regains power at the next election, due by 1988. A policy document drawn up by the party’s national executive and Labour leaders in Parliament said, “The partnership of public and private enterprise will be needed to finance industrial recovery at both national and local level.” The document indicated that. Labour would not automatically renationalise industries sold off to the pub-

lic in the five years of Conservate Government. “We will not allow our priorities to be dictated by the Tory privatisation programme,” said the document, titled “A Future That Works”. Labour said however, that it would renationalise the giant British Telecom communications organisation, due to be sold later this yer. Launching the document, Labour’s deputy leader, Mr Roy Hattersley, said that reducing unemployment, which he said was approaching four million, would be the party’s first

priority when it returned to power. The document, prepared for presentation to Labour’s annual conference next month, said that the party wanted to revive Britain’s ailing manufacturing sector. It said that service industries, particularly those in the public sector, would have to lead the way in reviving employment prospects. Mr Hattersley refused to give a target figure for employment under a Labour Government Such a figure would be given before the next election, he said.