§ 18. Mr. Nabarroasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to measure the economic consequences and assess the financial losses 390 to the nation resulting from unpreparedness to meet the extremely cold weather during the period from after Christmas to the end of the first week of January, 1962, notably in the spheres of transport, electric power failures and supply dimming, post-freeze house damage, health and work-absenteeism; and whether he will make a statement on aggregate and cumulative effects of the freeze-up on national productivity and other Treasury aspects of the matter.
§ Mr. BrookeThe authorities responsible for each particular service will naturally be considering in the ordinary course of their business what further lessons can be learned and put into effect. I doubt whether any form of central assessment would produce useful results.
§ Mr. NabarroIs it not a fact that the Minister replying to this Question has overall responsibility for the level of Government expenditure? As misplaced expenditure by public authorities and lack of co-ordination between them was responsible for immense national losses during this period of freeze-up, which would have been immeasurably worse had they occurred outside the holiday period, should not a lead be given by the Treasury to try to avoid such losses in future?
§ Mr. BrookeIt is a big question whether a lot of investment should be embarked upon for this purpose when there are so many other competing claims for our resources. In saying that I doubted whether any central assessment would be of value, what I especially had in mind was that I was reluctant to put a lot of people on to a big piece of work of analysis unless it was fairly clear that good practical results would flow from a central study of that kind.
§ Mr. NabarroOn a point of order. Having regard to the nature of that reply, I beg leave to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment on 5th February next.