HC Deb 04 March 1952 vol 497 cc179-80
1. Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the reasons for dismissing Mr. F. C. Jobson and Mr. M. Auliff from their membership of the Basildon, Essex, Development Corporation; and whether he will give a list of dismissals from similar corporations since October, 1951.

The Minister of Housing and Local Government (Mr. Harold Macmillan)

No one has been dismissed from membership of any new town corporation since October, 1951. These gentlemen were not reappointed after the expiry of their term of office.

Mr. Lewis

Could the Minister answer the Question by telling me those who have not been re-appointed—the list of people—and confirm whether or not there are others than those mentioned in the Question?

Mr. Macmillan

If the hon. Member will put down a Question, I will certainly circulate the answer in detail, but I should like to emphasise that members are appointed for a limited period and it is very unfair to the individuals concerned to suggest that because that they may not be re-appointed they have therefore been dismissed.

Mr. E. Shinwell

Is it not strange that in the majority of cases those who have not been re-appointed have been members of the Labour Party?

Mr. Macmillan

But it is not the fact. For instance, I do not regard Lord Beveridge as a member of the Labour Party. He did not wish to continue at Peterlee and in that case I appointed a very distinguished member of the Labour Party to be chairman of that corporation.

28. Mr. J. A. Sparks

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why the service of the Acton member of the Hemel Hempstead Development Corporation has been terminated; and what steps he is taking to safeguard the needs of the borough of Acton in the development policy of that corporation.

Mr. H. Macmillan

In reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer to the Answer I have given to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. A. Lewis). In reply to the second part of the Question, development corporations are not constituted on a representative basis, but I am confident from recent discussions with the corporation that they will not overlook the needs of the Borough of Acton.

Mr. Sparks

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why he displaced the Acton member of this corporation, and whether he will consider appointing another member of Acton Borough Council, if necessary, in place of the one displaced, on account of the interest of the Borough of Acton in the new town of Hemel Hempstead?

Mr. Macmillan

Of course, the rest of London is also interested in this new town.