§ 54. Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Minister of Production what steps he proposes to take arising out of the protests of local 241 production committees that their services are not being utilised and their existence ignored.
§ The Minister of Production (Mr. Lyttelton)I very much appreciate the excellent work which has been done by the great majority of the 78 District Committees under the Regional Boards, and should greatly regret it if one or two of them should have the feeling that their services are not fully used. I have no reason to suppose that such a feeling is at all general.
§ Mr. EdwardsIs the Minister aware that the chairman of the local Tees-side production committee called on me the other day at Middlesbrough and said it was his intention to resign, because they were not taking the slightest notice of either the chairman or the committee; that he protested against the continued import of steel, of which they have very large stocks, which are causing men to be put out of work; and could not something be done?
§ Mr. LytteltonThere are a great many wide questions in that. The only complaint that I have had from the District Committee to which the hon. Member referred was last August. A great deal of correspondence took place with the Committee and I thought they were satisfied, but I am quite prepared to go into the matter with the hon. Member if he wishes.
§ Mr. EdwardsHave they been consulted since that time?
§ Sir Oliver SimmondsIs my right hon. Friend aware that some of these committees do absolutely nothing, and would he consider suppressing them?