§ 40. Mr. Osborneasked the Prime Minister if in view of the need to free more people for the task of production, he will extend to all Ministries the policy under which the Minister of Fuel and Power has disbanded 700 local fuel economy committees.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)No, Sir. The Government are much indebted to the public-spirited persons who give their services part-time on advisory committees of this kind; and I am not prepared to disband them before their work is done.
§ Mr. OsborneIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of time wasted in committees—although the National Health Service has been vindicated today—in the nationalised industries, until it is becoming almost a racket? Will he take a look into this matter so that people can be released for productive work?
§ The Prime MinisterMy experience is that whether there is waste of time on committees or not depends very largely on the committee men or women, as the case may be; but I am quite sure that in a democracy useful public service of this kind is invaluable.
§ Sir W. DarlingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister of Fuel and Power has disbanded local fuel committees?
§ The Prime MinisterI am aware of that, and the reason is that they were put into operation for a particular purpose in 1947, and that since then, under the Electricity Act. other committees have been set up to perform those functions.
§ Mr. OsborneThat is just my point. Will the Prime Minister look at other committees whose functions have ceased 191 to exist and disband them, so that the people on them can get on with a real job of production?
§ The Prime MinisterIf the hon. Gentleman can give me some instances of committees that have ceased to function I should be pleased to deal with them.
§ Mr. OsborneI will do that with pleasure.