§ 50. Sir CHARLES CAYZERasked the Prime Minister whether he intends to set up an economic advisory committee to advise the Government on economic matters; and whether he can make any statement as to the powers and functions of this body and name the persons he intends to invite to serve on it?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI propose as necessity requires to refer general economic questions of major importance to the Committee of Civil Research. That body is a Committee under my chairmanship, and I propose that in future it should consist of a nucleus of Cabinet Ministers, to whom will be attached men and women who can best assist with whatever business is before it. Much of its work will be done by sub-committees, a number of which have already been constituted. When I have a little more leisure, I propose to consider how best to make this Committee useful as part of our machinery of government.
§ Sir C. CAYZERIn view of the very valuable work that a body of this nature has carried on in Germany during the past two or three years, in promoting schemes for the rationalisation of industry, can the Prime Minister say whether this Committee will be empowered to function in a similar capacity in this country?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, I hope so. I think this Committee, properly constituted, and with proper terms of reference, would be one of the most useful parts of our machinery of government and administration.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYMay we take it that the idea of establishing a separate, permanent, economic general staff has been abandoned by the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, not necessarily. That is covered by the last sentence of my reply.
§ Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFTWhen the recommendations of these committees are made, will he carry them out, or will he ignore them, as in the case of the Balfour Commission?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe case of the Balfour Commission is not a case in point, but the Balfour Commission Report has not been ignored. Quite obviously, the reports and recommendations of all these commissions and committees must be brought before the Government for the exercise of their judgment.
§ Major NATHANWill the Prime Minister say whether this Committee will be in permanent session to deal with economic matters generally, or whether it will be merely appointed for the purpose of ad hoc inquiries?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Committee itself will be in permanent session, if you like to use that term, just as the Committee of Imperial Defence is in permanent session, but the work of the Committee will be suggested, I hope ultimately, and given to it by the Departments and Ministers, including myself. It will be a very great convenience in government, and it will, therefore, not be a rigidly working Committee.
§ Mr. BRACKENDoes the Prime Minister intend to put economists as well as Ministers on this Committee?