§ 16. Miss Harvie Andersonasked the Minister of Public Building and Works when he proposes to attend a meeting of the Economic Development Committee for the building industry.
§ Mr. MellishI 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 AndersonWould 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. MellishThe 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-ClarkIs 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. MellishThat 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 194 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.