HC Deb 24 June 1947 vol 439 cc227-9
Mr. Shinwell

I beg to move, in page 6, line 3, at the end, to insert: and such appointments shall be made from the Area Boards in rotation. This Amendment relates to the appointment and period of office of the chairmen of the area boards on the Central Authority. It is our intention that the closest possible contact shall be maintained. be- tween the Central Authority and the area boards, which, I think, will be;to their mutual advantage. We have to consider how that contact is to be initiated and afterwards maintained. It is my view, after a careful consideration of this problem, that the best means of maintaining close contact is to appoint, in rotation, four of the area board chairmen to the Central Authority. We considered whether it would be desirable, having made the appointments, to retain the services of certain of the chairmen, with high qualifications, on the Central Authority for a period of years, but, as the intention is to maintain contact between the boards, rather than to utilise the services of the chairmen of the area boards on the Central Authority, I came to the conclusion that this was the best means of dealing with the problem.

Mr. R. S. Hudson

I agree with the right hon. Gentleman. I think the suggestion was first made by us in Committee. It is a definite improvement to the Bill.

Amendment agreed to.