4. Miss Wardasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to ensure that there will be no telescoping of the heavy engineering and shipbuilding industries in regard to production without his consent.
§ Mr. DaltonAs stated in the White Paper on Employment Policy, it is the Government's policy to promote the basic industries of this country and to help them to reach the highest possible pitch of efficiency and secure overseas markets. The Government are, and will continue, in close touch with these industries regarding the change-over from war to peace production.
Miss WardCan the right hon. Gentleman assure us that no conversations have taken place between industry and his Department with regard to telescoping?
§ Mr. DaltonI was not quite sure what the hon. Lady meant by telescoping. It is not a phrase we commonly use. I did not know whether she meant concentration, which has been going on for some time as a war measure, or something else. If she will talk to me and say exactly what she means, I shall be glad to deal with the question.
§ Mr. DaltonConcentration of industry has been a war-time measure designed to free factory space and labour. It is a war-time measure, and there is a commitment entered into by one of my predecessors that as soon as reasonably possible we shall give facilities for deconcentration to take place in various industries.
§ Mr. KirkwoodCan the Minister tell us that in the change-over from war to peace men will not be sent to the employment exchange and get£1 a week, but that when displacement takes place the workers will get maintenance?
§ Mr. DaltonThat rather falls outside my Department. I think the Minister of 6 Labour would answer that question. He and I are in very close touch on this matter.