HC Deb 15 February 1949 vol 461 cc946-8
52. Mr. Geoffrey Cooper

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the terms of reference and who are the chairman and members of the Manpower in Local Government Committee which has just been set up; whether it is intended to take advice from any professional organisations such as the British Institute of Management or the Institute of Public Administration, which might be able to assist in making the report more comprehensive; and whether the final report will be published.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, East (Mr. E. Fletcher) on Tuesday, 8th February.

Mr. Cooper

Is it intended that this should be purely an inter-Departmental Committee and, if so, does not that mean that civil servants will be sitting as judge and jury in their own case and that the committee is unlikely, therefore, to recommend any extensive cuts in manpower at present being sought by the Departments?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

If my hon. Friend will read the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for East Islington he will find in it the answer to the questions he has now put.

Mr. Eric Fletcher

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the opinion of a great many people this Committee may well be fruitful in putting forward useful suggestions for economy without any loss of efficiency and is it not very desirable that its report should be made as widely known as possible?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

It is not that kind of Committee. It is a Committee composed of Departmental and other experts who are going into this matter, and at this juncture, at any rate, it is not expected that a report will be necessary.

Mr. Cooper

Will the widest possible scope be given for evidence to be heard from local government officials and local government councillors?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

I think my hon. Friend can take it that evidence of all kinds that may be desirable will be taken.

Mr. Stanley

If this strange Committee is not going to report, what is it going to do—not, I hope, follow the example of "What a Life"?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

The question I was asked was whether it was going to make a final report, that is, a published report, and the answer is that that is not contemplated at the moment.

Mr. Stanley

Is it going to make a report? If it is, cannot that report be a published report, if the right hon. Gentleman so desires?

64. Mr. Eric Fletcher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps will be taken to publish the recommendations of the Committee appointed to consider the distribution of functions between central and local government authorities and to ensure economy in the use of manpower.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend on 8th February.

Mr. Fletcher

Is it not very desirable that the proceedings of this Committee should be treated seriously, and will my right hon. Friend reconsider getting them to report in such a way that the fullest use can be made of the recommendations they may put forward?

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