§ Q5. Mr. Ginsburgasked the Prime Minister to what extent the services of the Economic Adviser to Her Majesty's Government are available to himself and to Ministers generally.
§ The Prime MinisterThe services of the Economic Adviser to the Government are freely available to myself and to other Ministers. Naturally, since he is a member of the Treasury, his advice is primarily tendered through the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. GinsburgIs the Prime Minister aware that the Economic Adviser was used as an expert witness at the National Incomes Commission? If the Government are going to express the gloomy view that the N.E.D.C. growth target cannot be readied by 1966, would it not be better if the Prime Minister himself or the Chancellor went to the Commission and said so?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that there is a Question on the Order Paper on the evidence given by Professor Cairncross and I would ask the hon. Member to await the reply to that specific Question. There is a verbatim report of the proceedings in the Library.
§ Mr. ShinwellHow can the Prime Minister account for things having gone wrong and for such a high rate of unemployment when he has so much economic advice?
§ The Prime MinisterThere is an Economic Adviser and a panel of sixteen economists.