§ 22. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Prime Minister whether he will now announce the name of the chairman and members of the Advisory Council for Wales; and when and where its first meeting will be held.
§ 23. Mr. Coveasked the Prime Minister whether he is now able to announce the names of the chairman and members of the National Council for Wales.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)I am circulating the complete list of 27 members of the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire in the OFFICIAL REPORT. In accordance with the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Lord President of the Council on 24th November, the 12 local authority members have been chosen from a panel of persons nominated by Welsh local authorities; and there are also nominees from the Joint Education Committee, the University of Wales, the National Eisteddfod Council, and the Welsh Tourists and Holidays Board. As representatives of the management side of Welsh industry and agriculture, I have appointed Mr. G. E. Aeron-Thomas, Mr. G. B. Bailey, Mr. E. Gibby, and Mr. W. Clayton Russon; and to represent the workers' side, Councillor Huw T. Edwards, Mr. E. H. Hickery, Mr. Edward Jones, and Mr. R. Ll. Jones. To fill the three remaining places I have appointed Mr. A. R. Davies, Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards, and Mrs. Jennie Jenkins. Except in the case of the local authority representatives, the appointments will be for three years. In order to increase the opportunity for individual local authorities to have a representative on the Council, a third of the local authority members will retire each year under arrangements to be settled with the advice of the Council.
I am also glad to be able to tell the House that Mr. Huw Edwards has accepted my invitation to be Chairman of the Council for its first year; subsequent appointments will be made by the Council itself, subject to the proviso that the chairmanship shall alternate between North and South Wales. It will be for the Chairman to make the arrangements for the first Meeting.
§ Mr. FreemanWhile thanking the Prime Minister for the assistance the Government has at last given to Wales, may I ask whether the Council will be able to meet when and where it likes?
§ The Prime MinisterI presume so. I have stated that this is a matter for the Chairman to make the arrangements for the first meeting and, presumably, for subsequent meetings.
§ Sir Henry Morris-JonesCan the Prime Minister give an assurance to the House that the proceedings of this Council will be made available to the public, and will not be secret and confidential?
§ The Prime MinisterI cannot answer that question without notice.
§ Sir H. Morris-JonesWill the Prime Minister issue a directive to see that the proceedings of the Council will be available to the public?
§ The Prime MinisterI think the general view is that this should not be public, but that Press announcements should be made.
§ Following is the list:
§ COUNCIL FOR WALES AND MONMOUTHSHIRE
§ Chairman
- Councillor Huw T. Edwards (one of the representatives of Industrial and Agricultural Workers).
§ Nominated by the Prime Minister
- Mr. A. R. Davies.
- Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards.
- Mrs. Jennie Jenkins.
§ Representatives of Local Authorities
- Alderman R. D. Briercliffe, J.P.
- Councillor G. F. Hamer, C.B.E., J.P.
- Alderman A. E. Harries.
- Councillor Llewellyn Heycock.
- Alderman W. D. Hughes, J.P.
- Councillor Lewis Lewis.
- Councillor Sidney Mitchell, J.P.
- Councillor Penry Morris.
- Councillor David Owen, M.B.E., J.P
- Councillor O. Gwyrfai Owen.
- Alderman J. J. Panes, O.B.E.
- Alderman George Williams, C.B.E.
§ Representatives of Industry and Agriculture (Management)
- Mr. G. E. Aeron-Thomas, O.B.E., D.L., J.P.
- Mr. G. B. Bailey.
- Mr. E. Gibby.
- Mr. W. Clayton Russon, M.B.E.
§ Representatives of Industry and Agriculture (Workers')
- Mr. E. H. Hickery.
- Mr. Edward Jones, J.P.
- Mr. R. LI. Jones, M.B.E.
- In addition to the Chairman.
§ Education
- Alderman Joseph Jones, J.P., M.A. (nominated by Joint Education Committee).
- Professor Henry Lewis, M.A., D.Lit. (nominated by University of Wales).
§ Representative of National Eisteddfod Council
- Alderman W. Emyr Williams, LL.B.
§ Representative of Tourist and Holidays Board
- Mr. William Jones, C.B.E.