§ 55. Mr. Stokesasked the Minister of Defence what steps he is taking to ensure the maximum co-ordination of productive effort among the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation nations so as to ensure the greatest economy and leave the maximum manpower both technological and skilled available for normal production.
§ Sir W. MoncktonThe North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is actively concerned with the co-ordination of defence production among the member countries, and the United Kingdom plays a full part in all its activities in this field.
§ Mr. StokesI know that is the intention, but is the Minister aware that a distinguished general said to me the other day, "In N. A. T. O., Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States of America all make jeeps and the only thing that is common to them is the air in the tyres"? If that really represents what is happening in combined productive efforts, does the right hon. and learned Gentleman not agree that the thing is hopelessly inefficient and that more ought to be done?
§ Sir W. MoncktonI think more can be done, and I took the opportunity of talking to some distinguished generals in a similar part of the world to that where, I fancy, the right hon. Gentleman had his talk. I gather that there are now groups of experts on the standardisation 2008 of a great many projects, and that advances are hoped for and expected.
§ Mr. StokesI know all that, but does the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that it does not rest with the authorities in N. A. T. O. or S. H. A. P. E., and that this co-ordination depends upon the activities of individual Governments? Will he take steps at Governmental level to see that production is co-ordinated to bring about the highest possible efficiency?
§ Sir W. MoncktonI am doing my best in that direction now.