HC Deb 24 June 1968 vol 767 cc34-5
56. Mr. Edelman

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will define the prospective functions of Mr. George Cattell in her department.

Mr. Harold Walker

Mr. Cattell has been appointed Director, Manpower and Productivity Services and will be responsible for encouraging increased productivity wherever possible and facilitating redeployment of manpower needed by technological and industrial change.

Mr. Edelman

Is my hon. Friend aware that Mr. Cattell still has some unresolved problems to settle at Rootes in connection with the measured working day and piece work? Would it not be better for Mr. Cattell to deal with these problems before launching him into wider spheres?

Mr. Walker

Mr. Cattell has, temporarily at least, severed his connection with Rootes and has ceased to have responsibility for its policies. I understand that the measured working day scheme, for the introduction of which he was responsible, has broadly been accepted at the Rootes factories.

Mr. R. Carr

At the end of his Answer, the Under-Secretary said that Mr. Cattell would have responsibility for the redeployment of manpower in the light of technological change. Does this mean that he will in some way be responsible for the retraining programme?

Mr. Walker

No, Sir.