47. Mr. T. WILSONasked the Prime Minister if he can see his way to add two representatives of Labour to the Committee on Production?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Committee on Production, as at present constituted, consists of independent persons, and is not intended to be representative of classes or interests. The suggested alteration in its constitution would alter its character, and is not, in my opinion, advisable.
Mr. WILSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that great discontent exists in many large works on account of lack of understanding by the Committee on Production of questions submitted to them?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf my hon. Friend will send proof I shall be obliged.
§ Mr. O'GRADYWhen the appointments were made to the Committee on Production was the question of the experience of these men upon these methods taken into consideration?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThey were among the most eminent of our Civil servants.
§ Mr. THOMASDoes the right hon. Gentleman not see that there are representatives of capital on the Committee—that is to say, men who formerly were engaged looking after the interests of capital—one a late general manager, to give no other illustration—and would not the fact that a representative of Labour was on the Committee be calculated to give more general confidence?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs I have said, I do not think that a Committee of this kind ought to be representative of interests in any sense. The desire is to get the best and most detached minds you can.