§ 57. Mr. William Teelingasked the Minister of Defence what is the rôle of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Rearmament Board; who are its members; to whom do they report and who gives decisions; how often they have met; and at what intervals it is intended that they should meet.
§ Mr. A. HendersonThe general objective of the Defence Production Board is to achieve the maximum production of military equipment in the most efficient manner, at the least cost and in the shortest time to meet the military material requirements of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The names of its members will, with permission, be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The board reports to the North Atlantic Treaty Defence Committee and is also in close touch with the council deputies. It is for member Governments to decide how far it is possible for them to implement its recommendations. The board has met twice this month and is meeting again on Friday. In the near future it is likely to meet every two or three weeks.
§ Mr. TeelingWhile thanking the Minister for giving such a detailed description of what they hope and are proposing to do, may I ask if, in his temporary position as Minister of Defence, and in addition to what he said in reply to me as Secretary of State for Air, he does not feel that this organisation, though 901 very nice on paper, is actually doing very little so far and that many people are very dissatisfied with its progress?
§ Mr. HendersonIt is possibly doing much more than the hon. Gentleman realises.
Following are the details:Belgium, Monsieur Henri Janne; Canada, Mr. E. W. T. Gill; Denmark, Major V. K. Laursen; France, Ingenieur General L. Kahn; Italy, State Counsellor E. Santoro; Luxembourg, Monsieur A. J. Clasen; Netherlands, Dr. P. Schoenmaker; Norway, Colonel J. Christie; Portugal, Colonel L. Pina; United Kingdom, Sir Harold Parker. K.C.B., K.B.E., M.C.; United States, Mr. W. L. Batt.