§ Q1. Mr. Gardnerasked the Prime Minister how many meetings of the National Economic Development Council have been held since he became Chairman; and at how many he has taken the chair.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)I have taken the chair at 14 of the 19 meetings held since I became Chairman.
§ Mr. GardnerIn view of the importance of the N.E.D.C. to central economic planning, can my right hon. Friend ensure that we have more information about its work? Can he say whether it will be looking into the implications of the Hunt Committee's Report, and could some of the papers be made available in the Library?
§ The Prime MinisterI will look into the question of what more information might be given. Certain information is given by the Director-General but, when the N.E.D.C. began several years ago, it was decided that it would work better if there was no full disclosure of its papers.
On the second part of my hon. Friend's question, it will be considering the Hunt Committee's Report at its meeting next week.
§ Mr. EmeryWill the N.E.D.C. be given any estimate of the effect on unemployment of the Budget, bearing in mind that unemployment has now been running at a level of over 500,000 for 21 months?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not know whether the N.E.D.C. will express views on that, particularly its industrial members, but the hon. Gentleman will know that this matter was raised in the Budget 1614 debate, and the House debated the Budget for some four days.