PRODUCTION DRIVE (Hansard, 23 October 1946)

§ 45. Mr. Osborne
asked the Prime Minister what has been the results of his spring appeal to the trades unions and industrial leaders for greater output; if he is satisfied with the response; and what further steps he contemplates to increase industrial output.

§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)
As the hon. Member has no doubt observed, the figures and statements published month by month show a general improvement in the output of goods, and I think that the Production Drive, which I inaugurated in the spring, has played an important part in bringing about this result. We are, however, still a long way from meeting our needs in production both for the home market and to pay for our necessary imports, and the Government are taking all possible steps to encourage and assist managements and workers to increase output. As hon. Members will be aware, an important feature of the first phase of the Production Drive has been a series of regional conferences of employers and trade unionists addressed by Ministers. Use has in addition been made of Ministerial broadcasts and speeches; a leaflet, copies of which have been circulated to hon. Members, has been widely distributed; a short film has been produced and a national poster campaign has been launched.
In the second phase of the drive, which is now opening, it is proposed to follow these measures up by the greatest possible use of the various media to bring home the objects of the drive to every individual concerned, whether in workshop or office; and in this connection the fine lead which has just been given by the Trades Union Congress at Brighton should be of the utmost assistance. The aims of the Production Drive will, I am sure, commend themselves to all sections of the House, and I should like to take this opportunity of inviting Members, irrespective of party, to cooperate with us in furthering them to the fullest possible extent.

§ Mr. Osborne
In view of the overriding importance of the coal industry, the repeated threat that we may have two million unemployed, and the fact that the miners will not follow the Fuel Minister at all, will the Prime Minister himself make a pressing appeal to the mining industry?

§ The Prime Minister
I do not accept the hon. Member's premises.

§ Mr. Walkden
Does the Prime Minister not feel deeply dissatisfied at the attitude of certain people who are constantly making mischief, particularly members of the Tory Party?

§ Sir W. Smithers
May I ask the Prime Minister if when he is making an appeal for increase in exports he will also point out, in view of the approaching end of the sellers' market, the necessity for exporting goods and services at world competitive prices?

§ The Prime Minister
That point is necessarily borne in mind. We are endeavouring to bring all such points, which are fairly elementary, before the public.

§ Sir W. Smithers
That is never done.

§ 48. Mr. Erroll
asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will arrange for the Government leaflet, "Extra Effort Now Means Better Living Sooner," to be distributed where practicable by shop stewards and trades union officials to the workers they directly represent.

§ The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)
Copies have been supplied to the Trades Union Congress, who, I understand, intend to distribute them to their members and to trades councils; to national employers' organisations; and to the Regional Boards for Industry and the District Production Committees, on which both employers and trade unionists sit; and they will be available for distribution at production conferences and factory meetings.

§ Mr. W. J. Brown
Instead of issuing these exhortations to additional effort, would it not be very much more to the point if we considered what are the real factors making for restricted output at the moment, such as the incidence of taxation and the restrictive practices of one kind and another; and will the right hon. Gentleman get to grips with the problem?

§ Mr. Morrison
This publication is not an exhortation. The hon. Gentleman must not judge everybody else by his own feelings on the matter. It is not an exhortation; it is a plain and reasonable statement of facts addressed to plain and reasonable people.

§ Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaite
Will the Government bear in mind that better living now will bring extra effort sooner?

§ Mr. Morrison
If the hon. and gallant Member wants to contribute to cheering the nation up instead of depressing it, we shall be very glad of his help.

§ Mr. Erroll
Why do the Government insist on keeping the shop stewards out of this extra effort?

§ Mr. Morrison
Nobody has said that the shop stewards were out of it. I have no doubt that the shop stewards are playing their part.