§ 61. Mr. Collinsasked the President of the Board of Trade the reason for the delay in setting up a Development Council for the furniture industry; when he anticipates that it will be set up; and if he will give an assurance that the utility furniture scheme will not be discontinued until the Development Council has formulated an alternative for the maintenance of agreed standards of quality.
§ Mr. BelcherThe organisations representing employers and workers in the furniture industry have had before them for some time draft proposals for the establishment of a Development Council, but consideration of them was held up at the request of the employers until certain urgent matters concerning production and supplies of materials had been cleared. More rapid progress should now be possible, and it is hoped to be able to bring the necessary order before the House in the Autumn. As to the last part of the Question, I have no doubt that the Development Council will regard the problem of quality standards as a job to be tackled urgently when they are set up, and I hope that they will have been able to formulate recommendations on this subject before there is any question of ending the utility scheme.
§ Mr. CollinsWill my hon. Friend give a definite assurance that no move will be made with regard to the termination of the utility furniture scheme until after the Development Council has made proposals for an alternative, and those proposals have been considered?
§ Mr. BelcherI should not like to be tied to a hard and fast assurance. I have every reason to believe that alternative proposals will be forthcoming before the utility scheme is terminated.