§ 3.6 p.m.
§ LORD ERROLL OF HALEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when the names of the members of the Exports Awards Committee are going to be announced; and when the working details of the scheme arc likely to be published.]
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE EARL OF LONGFORD)My Lords, the Chairman of the Committee is His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. The members are:
- Sir William Carron,
- Major-General C. H. Colquhoun,
- Sir Harold Roxbee Cox,
- Sir Maurice Dean,
- Sir Laurence Helsby,
- Mr. J. M. Laing,
- Sir William McFadzean,
- Brigadier C. E. Morrison,
- Mr. L. K. O'Brien,
- Sir Richard Powell,
- Sir Peter Runge.
§ LORD ERROLL OF HALEMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his reply to the Question, particularly as I know that it was a matter of some inconvenience to the Government that I was unable to defer it to another day. Would the noble Earl indicate whether the awards scheme will be retrospective to the date of the original announcement eight weeks ago to-day, and would he confirm that there will be no remuneration for any of the members of the Committee?
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, I am afraid that the first point is one of those which would be under consideration, but I am glad that the noble Lord has raised it because that will clearly bring it before the Committee. I assume that there would be no remuneration. I have no positive information to that effect, but that is what I assume.
§ LORD ERROLL OF HALEMy Lords, whithout wishing to monopolise your Lordships' attention, may I say that the noble Earl does not appear to have answered the second part of my Question
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, the noble Lord is quite right; I was unsteadied by my failure to pronounce the last name correctly. The Committee has been asked to draw up a scheme for recognising, by awards to be made by the Sovereign on the Prime Minister's advice, outstanding achievement by particular industrial units, either in increasing exports or in technological innovation. It is too early to say when their work will be completed and details of the scheme made known.