§ 46. Mr. BRACKENasked the Prime Minister what duties are attached to the newly created post of Chief Industrial Adviser to the Government which have not hitherto been discharged by the Ministry of Labour and the Board of Trade?
§ 47. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister what are to be the new duties of Sir Horace Wilson, formerly Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and now appointed Chief Industrial Adviser to His Majesty's Government; whether his appointment indicates the formation of a new Government Department; if so, what Minister will be responsible to Parliament for it; and whether a supplementary Estimate will be required to meet the expenses of the new Department?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)The new post of Chief Industrial Adviser has been created to give effect to the Government's offer of more active co-operation with the efforts now being made to develop and reorganise industry, both for production and marketing. The post is designed to focus the activities of the Government in all matters relating to the organisation of industry, whether for production or distribution, which at present fall within the provinces of three Departments, the Board of Trade, the Ministry of Labour and the Department of Overseas Trade. The Chief Industrial Adviser will work under the direction of the President of the Board of Trade, who will accordingly be the responsible Minister. There is no question of a new Department, but the Chief Industrial Adviser will be assisted by such staff as may be found necessary. The annual cost of the Chief Industrial Adviser and his staff is expected to be approximately £10,000, but a saving of approximately £4,500 is effected by a transfer of staff hitherto borne. on the Vote for the Lord Privy Seal. The expenses will be borne on the Vote for the Board of Trade, and the question whether a supplementary Estimate will ho necessary for the. current year will he determined at. a later date when the total demands on the Vote of the Department- can be more accurately estimated.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYCan my right. hon. Friend say whether questions relating to the work of this Department should be addressed to the President of the Board of Trade in future.?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, I said that. the President of the Board of Trade is the responsible Minister.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDoes that mean that the President of the Board of Trade is the political head of this new Department?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is not a new Department. The President of the Board of Trade is the responsible Minister to this House for the activities described in my answer to the question
§ Captain P. MACDONALD: AmI to take it that this supersedes the Lord Privy Seal?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is quite different.
§ Mr. McSHANEAm I to understand that the President of the Board of Trade is now to be the responsible Minister to this House on all questions of unemployment?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo. If my hon. Friend will read the answer, he will see that the functions of this appointment are very accurately defined, and the President of the Board of Trade will be responsible for activities within the bounds of the answer which I have given.