HC Deb 04 February 1969 vol 777 cc193-4
16. Miss Harvie Anderson

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works when he proposes to attend a meeting of the Economic Development Committee for the building industry.

Mr. Mellish

I am always willing to attend a meeting of either construction industry E.D.C. if it seems appropriate for me to do so.

Miss Harvie Anderson

Would it not seem particularly appropriate since this body has been without a chairman since September 1968? Is he aware that it would be very welcome news if we were to have an announcement of a new chairman or alternatively were to be told that the whole thing was to be scrapped?

Mr. Mellish

The chairmanship of the E.D.C. is a very difficult job and we must take care that the right man is appointed. I am sorry that a chairman has not yet been appointed. I attended a meeting of the two E.D.C.S last year. I understand that they are due to meet again in March.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

Is it not rather discreditable on the part of the Government that there is no chairman so far? Is not the truth of the matter that the Government have set up so many boards and committees that businessmen and professional men simply have not the time to serve on them?

Mr. Mellish

That is a gross overstatement—as usual. The majority of these E.D.C.s, including these two in particular, have done and can do a first-class job of work. We are having difficulty over the appointment of a chairman. He must be the sort of person acceptable to the industry. It would be wrong for the Government simply to say, "This is the man to do the job". There have to be consultations, and these are going on.