Cecil's chance
ENERGY makes Cecil Parkinson the sponsoring minister for the biggest priva- tisation of all, with a last and best chance for the Government to learn from its mistakes. He predecessor, Peter Walker, was happy to see British Gas privatised in the image of its chairman, Sir Denis Rooke. The two natural corporatists stuck together, to ensure that the change of ownership did not diminish or dismantle that mighty empire, or subject its emperor to any undue interference from his new notional masters. With electricity, the per- suasive Mr Parkinson can do better — for competition, for structural change, for participation, and for getting the stock into the intended hands at the intended price. I am depressed to learn that the first of the new season's privatisations, British Air- ports Authority, exhibits none of these qualities. It is apparently to be marketed to Son of Sid. Get a blab-off switch to eliminate the television commercials, now.
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