HC Deb 31 October 1939 vol 352 cc1738-40
46. Colonel Baldwin-Webb

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the growing adverse feeling in the country due to the methods of bureaucracy, paying special attention to the excessive standardisation of food in relation to export trade and home consumption; whether he will call for and consider a report from the War Department as to its preference for timber for camp buildings to the detriment of all other building and the increase of shipping; if he will investigate the methods of State commandeering and requisitioning, and the interference with the daily life of the trading community such as the suggested earlier closing of shops; and whether, to avoid developments harmful to national finance, he will consider the remodelling of much of the home front policy as a whole?

The Prime Minister

My hon. and gallant Friend has included within the limits of his question a large variety of criticisms which I could hardly deal with in a single answer. I can, however, assure him that the matters he refers to are all being carefully considered with the object of removing grievances and hardships where this can be done consistently with the paramount objective of winning the war. In regard to the last part of the question I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave on 9th October to my hon. Friend the Member for the Central Division of Leeds (Mr. Denman), and to the speech of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the course of the Debate on economic co-ordination on 18th October.

Mr. Shinwell

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the difficulties, so far as they have arisen, are not attributable so much to bureaucracy as to lack of co-ordination?

47. Sir John Wardlaw-Milne

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the widespread and increasing complaints in connection with the control of certain commodities, he will consider appointing a co-ordinating authority to secure cooperation in the work of these Departments and prevent the delays in coming to decisions which are now taking place?

The Prime Minister

I am not sure what commodities my hon. Friend has in mind, but co-ordinating machinery already exists for dealing with matters in the economic sphere, including the control of commodities. If my hon. Friend wishes to bring to my notice any particular complaints I will see that they are investigated.

Sir J. Wardlaw-Milne

I shall be glad to bring complaints to the notice of my right hon. Friend. May I ask him whether he is aware that there is widespread complaint about the want of coordination, and does he not consider that the time has come when he should get one of his colleagues in the Cabinet who has no other duties to become the controller of the controllers?

The Prime Minister

Perhaps my hon. Friend will let me know what other kind of commodities he has in mind.

50. Mr. Mander

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state. in view of the fact that in addition to being president of the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company Lord Stamp is also president of the Abbey Road Building Society, chairman of Pickfords, Limited, and Hay's Wharf Cartage Company, Limited, vice-chairman David MacBrayne, Limited, and director of the Bank of England, Carter Paterson and Company, Limited, and Railway Finance Corporation, Limited, whether he is satisfied that Lord Stamp will be able to devote enough time to acting as chief Government adviser in connection with economic blockade?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon)

Lord Stamp informs me that, with the exception of his directorship of the Bank of England, he holds no directorship which is not an integral part of his railway functions as a whole; directorships of this kind are subject to the arrangements made by the L.M.S. to enable Lord Stamp to accept appointment as Adviser on Economic Co-ordination. I described those arrangements to the House on 18th October. I am satisfied that Lord Stamp is devoting such a large share of his time to the study of Government problems as to make his advice of the greatest value to the Government.

Mr. Mander

In view of the great importance of the economic weapon in the prosecution of the war, does the Chancellor of the Exchequer not think that we should have someone who can give his full time to that office? The present arrangement is neither fair to Lord Stamp nor to the country?

Mr. Craven-Ellis

As Lord Stamp is not in receipt of a salary, is he free from all responsibility for any advice he may give?

Sir J. Simon

I think everyone realises that Lord Stamp has very great powers, and that the service he is rendering to the country is of great value.

Mr. De la Béere

But is not the whole matter very strange?