HC Deb 27 March 1947 vol 435 cc1412-3
The Prime Minister

I propose, with Mr. Speaker's permission, to make a statement about the constitution and functions of the Inter-departmental Planning Staff, and the appointment of a Chief Planning Officer. The primary task of the Interdepartmental Planning Staff under the supervision of the Chief Planning Officer will be to develop the long-term plan for the use of the country's manpower and resources. They will also follow through the implications of the survey set out in the White Paper, keeping in touch with all Departments so as to correlate their action under the plan. The approach must essentially be a practical one. Both sides of industry will be kept in contact with the progress of the planning, through the Planning Board which His Majesty's Government intend to establish.

The Chief Planning Officer will work directly under the Lord President and will have access to all Ministers concerned with production matters. I should like here to make plain the scope and nature of the responsibilities of the Chief Planning Officer and the extent of the contribution which planning can make to the solution of our economic difficulties. All decisions on planning policy will be made by the Cabinet and not by the Chief Planning Officer. Responsibility for these decisions must, of course, reside wholly with Ministers. Further, it would of course be a mistake to assume that the present difficulties of under-production can be solved by planning alone. The function of planning is to enable decisions to be reached as to the best allocation of available manpower, materials, services and manufacturing capacity. Planning is in itself no substitute for the increased effort and efficiency which are essential to our national prosperity.

I am glad to announce that Sir Edwin Plowden, who served during the war as Chief Executive in the Ministry of Aircraft Production, has agreed to accept the appointment as Chief Planning Officer on this understanding. I am also glad to announce that Sir Robert Sinclair has agreed to act as industrial consultant to Sir Edwin Plowden in the initial stages. Although he will not be able to give more than part of his time to the work, his experience as chief executive at the Ministry of Production during the war will in this way be available to Sir Edwin Plowden.