§ Mr. Mulleyasked the Minister of Supply what proposals he has for relieving the United Kingdom economy by placing armament orders in Europe; and what form of organisation he proposes to set up for this purpose.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussWe have decided to set up a European Purchasing Commission to augment the procurement in Europe of stores and equipment required for the defence programme of the United Kingdom. The placing of orders in Europe to supplement production in this country will confer mutual benefits. It will help European countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to develop their capacity to fulfil their own defence programmes and will benefit their balance of payments and general economy. It will, at the same time, enable British manufacturing capacity to be used for essential home production and exports to a greater extent than the substantial rearmament programme would otherwise permit.
The Commission will operate for all Government Departments concerned in the defence programme, under my direction. The Chairman of the Commission will be Sir Donald Perrott, K.B.E., and the Deputy-Chairman, Captain K. J. G. Bartlett. They will be assisted by the following advisory panel of industrialists: Sir Francis Brake; Mr. A. G. E. Briggs; Mr. W. C. Puckey; Mr. S. W. Rawson; Sir Alan Saunders; Mr. E. W. Senior.
The Commission will have offices in a number of the main European countries.