§ 5. Mr. Lawsonasked the Minister of Labour who is the authority in each industrial area for dealing with special difficulties of production; and what is the nature of his authority?
§ Mr. BevinThe Departments concerned with production are represented in the Regions by officers, whose duties include that of dealing, each in his own sphere, with any difficulties that may arise. These officers can readily consult the headquarters specialists of their own Departments and also consult one another, as may be needed. In appropriate cases help can be given by the Production Executive Regional Boards, which include in their membership the senior Regional Officers of all the Departments concerned, 894 together with representatives of both sides of industry.
§ Mr. LawsonAm I to take it that there is not anybody in these Regions with authority, and that, however estimable the representatives may be, they do not have the necessary power to co-ordinate the highly varied activities of factories and works in each given Region, and that these things have to come back to London?