§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Secretary for Scotland of he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Scottish Departmental Committee on Food Production; how many sittings this Committee has held within the la-it six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cast to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, pasting, and stationery; and whether this Committee is to be continued?
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§ Mr. MUNROThe Committee has made three Reports. It has held no sittings as a whole during the last six months, but a Sub-committee of its number, comprising two additional members specially appointed for the purpose, has met to advise the Scottish Board of Agriculture from time to time. The cost of the Committee has so far been £272, excluding the cost of printing and stationery. There is no intention of discontinuing the Committee.
§ Mr. BILLINGasked the President of the Local Government Board if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Housing (Building Construction) Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether he considers the perpetuation of this Committee is necessary to the successful prosecution of the War?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERI am informed that there have been nine meetings of the Committee since its appointment on the 26th July last and eighteen meetings of Sub-committees. No changes have been made in the personnel. The approximate expenditure to date is, I am told, £150. The Report of the Committee is expected in about three months' time, and I am satisfied that its work should not be delayed in any way as it may materially affect and simplify the problem of housing the working classes after the War, one of the most pressing problems in connection with reconstruction.
§ Mr. BILLINGasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Reserved Occupations Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Committee is to be continued?
§ Mr. BECKMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. The Reserved Occupations Committee is an inter-departmental Committee, which was originally attached to the Board of Trade, as its functions are mainly concerned with so guiding recruit-52W ing as to do the least possible injury to general trade consistent with the military requirements of the country. Soon after the National Service Department was started the then Director of National Service invited the Committee to join his Department in an advisory capacity, and when the new Ministry of National Service was established this Committee was invited to act as advisers to the Trade Exemptions Department of the Ministry. At the same time the membership of the Committee was slightly changed, so as to exclude representatives of the man-power using Departments. The Committee as such costs nothing, its expenditure being merged in that of the Trade Exemptions Department of the Ministry, and its members being unpaid except in so far as they are Government officials, whose work on this Committee forms part of their departmental duties. The two chief officers of the Trade Exemptions Department, for example, are the chairman and deputy-chairman of the Committee, and deal with the business arising from day to day. The present list of certified occupations has been in operation since 23rd June last, but a general revision is about to be made, and in connection therewith meetings of the Committee will again be necessary.
§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Minister of Munitions if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Labour Advisory Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Committee is to be continued?
§ Sir W. EVANSIt is not clear to what Committee the hon. Member refers. If he will give me the necessary particulars I will have inquiries made.
§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Minister of Munitions if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Munitions Council; how many sittings this Council has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Council during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Council, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Council is to be continued?
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§ Sir W. EVANSThe Munitions Council was established in August last by the Minister of Munitions to assist in coordinating and controlling the extended business of the Ministry. A full explanation of the reason leading to this departure was made public at the time. In the period of four months—from 18th August to 18th December of last year—175 meetings of the Council, or of the Committees of the Council, have been held. The only changes made in the personnel of the Council have been the inclusion of three additional new members. In nearly every case the members of the Munitions Council are serving and have been serving since the formation of the Ministry of Munitions, without salary. The creation of the Council has not imposed any new administrative charges upon the Exchequer. There is no intention of dispensing with the Munitions Council, which, with its Committees, has become the principal instrument through which the business of the Ministry of Munitions is discharged.
§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Official History of the War Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Committee is to be continued?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. One sitting has been held by the Committee within the last six months. No changes have been made in the personnel of the Committee during this period. The annual cost to the State of the Committee is nil. This Committee is to be continued.