HC Deb 22 November 1966 vol 736 cc1142-3
Q1. Mr. Biffen

asked the Prime Minister if he will list the number of advisory committees connected with the National Economic Development Council, the Department of Economic Affairs, the Board of Trade, the Ministry of Technology, the British National Exports Council and the British Productivity Council which involve voluntary service by industrialists and trade union leaders; by what means the productivity of these committees is measured; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister

With permission, I will circulate the information for which the hon. Member asks in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Biffen

Would not the Prime Minister agree that these committees take up a great deal of time? Is there not now evidence that business men should give priority to giving their full-time activities to improving the profits of their company and thus to providing maximum employment?

NUMBERS OF CONSULTATIVE AND OTHER COMMITTEES, ON WHICH INDUSTRIALISTS AND TRADE UNION REPRESENTATIVES SERVE VOLUNTARILY, WHOSE FUNCTIONS INCLUDE AN IMPORTANT ADVISORY ELEMENT
Parent Department or Organisation Number of Committees Notes
National Economic Development Council. 25 Including 21 Economic Development Committees for particular industries, most of which also have a number of sub-committees.
The Department of Economic Affairs. 8 The regional Economic Planning Councils. [In addition a Consultative Committee for Europe is in process of being set up.]
The Board of Trade 17 On widely varying subjects (e.g. statistics, films, civil aviation). There are also many working groups (some temporary) which advise the Marine Division of the Department on various matters, mostly concerned with the safety of life at sea.
The Ministry of Technology 70 30 concerned with the central work of the Ministry including the interests of particular industries; and 40 concerned with the research work of the Ministry's various Research Stations. There is also a number of committees connected with the Atomic Energy Authority, the National Research and Development Corporation, the British Standards Institution and the various Industrial Research Associations which although not reporting to the Ministry are frequently closely associated with it, through representative members.
The British National Expon Council. 13 Some of these also have sub-committees.
The British Productivity Council 4 In addition, there are about 130 Local Productivity Committees.

I am satisfied that these committees are making a valuable contribution to the machinery of government in the interests of the country's economy. I welcome the opportunity of expressing the Government's great appreciation of the voluntary service which industralists, trade union leaders and others are prepared to give in this way.