§ 46. Mr. Craven-Ellisasked the Prime Minister whether he has changed the composition of the Production Executive and Import Executive, in view of the fact that the Minister of Aircraft Production is not now a member of the War Cabinet; and whether the Minister of Shipping and Transport is to be a member of the Import Executive?
§ 48. Mr. Granvilleasked the Prime Minister what is the present composition of the Production Executive Committee; which Minister presides over its meetings; and whether this Executive Committee is responsible to the Supply Section of the Defence Committee or to the War Cabinet?
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer my hon. Friends to my statement in the House on 22nd January on the subject of the Production and Import Executives. There have been no changes in their composition except that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aircraft Production now fills the place on both Executives held by his predecessor in that office and that the Minister of War Transport has been appointed a member of the Import Executive. Both Executives remain responsible to the War Cabinet.
§ Mr. GranvilleIn order to avoid the tragedy of "too late and too little" in this vast question of mechanisation, will the Prime Minister now place war production and priorities under single control and direction, and will he also take an opportunity of reading a leader in to-day's "Times" on this question?
§ The Prime MinisterI was not really aware that my hon. Friend should prescribe to me my light reading in the morning. I may say that on several occasions I have given to the House explanations of the flexible machinery which we have for conducting the war at the present time, and on a suitable occasion I should be prepared to add to the statements I have made, but I do not contemplate any decisive changes in policy, at any rate at the present time.
§ Mr. MaxtonDoes the Prime Minister refuse to read the "Times" articles?
§ The Prime MinisterNot when I agree with them.