HL Deb 28 March 1972 vol 329 cc943-4
THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish studies on unemployment and inflation prepared by the Central Policy Research Unit which were reported in the Press on March 21.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (LORD ABERDARE)

My Lords, it is not customary to publish advice given by officials to Ministers.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for that reply, which was not wholly unexpected, may I ask him whether he would not agree that Lord Rothschild's "think-tank", as it is commonly called, might well serve a very valuable public service in monitoring our economic performance?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, if I may make one correction to my noble friend, it is the Central Policy Review Staff and not as described in his question in which he referred to the "think-tank". But the primary duty of the C.P.R.S. is to provide advice and briefing to Ministers collectively on matters of strategic importance; and in the view of Her Majesty's Government this can be done only if it is done privately to Ministers and not published.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, may I pursue that for a moment? Would the noble Lord not agree that there is need for some objective monitoring of our economic performance, and that if this can be provided objectively from this quarter it would help us all to perform, with the sanity and responsibility which the Government have asked trade unions and employers to use; and that in regard to both inflation and the shake-out of employment education by this means might be a very helpful development?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, I take note of my noble friend's suggestion, but I do not think it would be compatible with the present role of the Central Policy Review Staff.

BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGER

My Lords, if it is not, as we accept, the policy of Her Majesty's Government to disclose information—to publish information—given by officials to Ministers, how is it that apparently this information is given to the Press? If it is private information, can the Minister say why it comes to the knowledge of the Press?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, the Press are always very well informed and can make many inspired guesses. But I would not go further than that.