§ 17. Mr. Maxwellasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he will announce the chairmen and members of the regional planning boards.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe boards will consist of officials of the Departments concerned with regional planning under the chairmanship of an official of our Department. We hope that some of the boards will start work next month.
§ Mr. MaxwellIs my hon. Friend aware that these regional economic councils will result in one of the biggest advances in planning in recent years? Is he further aware that this will help restore regional planning to its proper place in our national affairs? Finally, will he tell the House how he proposes to ensure that the members of these boards act in the interests of the whole region and not in the sectional interests of the whole region, and not in the sectional interests of the authorities which may nominate them?
§ Mr. RodgersMembers of the boards will consist of officials of the Department concerned. My hon. Friend may be thinking of the economic planning councils. We shall certainly ensure that the membership is representative of the region, and will do the planning job that he has in mind.
§ Mr. ThorpeCan the hon. Gentleman say how it can be guaranteed that they are fully representative if there is to be no elective process and no democratic method of selection, but merely an appointment from Whitehall, which is presumed to know best?
§ Mr. RodgersThe Question was about the boards but the supplementary question is about the councils.
§ Mr. G. CampbellWill the First Secretary be careful not to expose too much of this planning machinery too soon, in order not to shock Members of the Liberal Party?
§ Mr. HeathCan the hon. Gentleman tell us which boards he is proposing to set up first? Secondly, can he confirm that "board" is another name for the machinery already created for dealing with the North-East and the North-West?
§ Mr. RodgersThe councils and boards in all the six regions of England already indicated by my right hon. Friend will be announced, we hope, before the Easter Recess. We are quite satisfied that the new machinery is a most important advance on anything that has been done in the past.