§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he is satisfied with the operation of the rules governing political neutrality of National Economic Development Office staff;
(2) if he is satisfied with the operation of the rules governing political neutrality 649W of National Economic Development Office staff serving the Building Economic Development Council;
(3) if he is satisfied with security arrangements for dealing with draft documents and confidential papers of the National Economic Development Office;
(4) if he is satisfied with the political balance of the National Economic Development Council and the National Economic Development Office committees.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettNEDC and its associated bodies provide a forum where Government, management and trade unions can discuss economic issues. The intention, in making appointments to NEDC and the EDCs is to give adequate representation to the interests involved, not to achieve a political balance. As far as the staff of NEDO is concerned, different considerations apply in their relationships with the public than would be the case with a Government Department, although I regret the recent unauthorised release of a working paper of the Building EDC.