HC Deb 26 November 1946 vol 430 cc267-9W
84. Mr. Cooper

asked the President of the Board of Trade the names and qualifications of the members of the National Production Advisory Council for Industry; what are its functions; how often it meets; and what regular publications, or other methods, does it employ to aid in the production and export drive.

Mr. Marquand

The membership of the National Production Advisory Council on Industry is as follows:

Chairman: The Rt. Hon. Sir Stafford Cripps, K.C., M.P., President of the Board of Trade.

Other Ministers attend or are represented as necessary. Representing the British Employers' Confederation and the Federation of British Industries, jointly:

  • Lieut.-Colonel Lord Dudley Gordon, D.S.O.
  • Sir Clive Baillieu, K.B.E., C.M.G.'
  • Sit Frank Platt.
  • Sir Norman Kipping.
  • Sir Alexander Ramsey, O.B.E.
  • Sir John Forbes Watson.
  • Mr. Andrew K. McCosh.

Representing the Trades Union Congress:

  • Sir Mark Hodgson, O.B.E.
  • Mr. H. N Harrison, O.B.E.
  • Mr. Jack Tanner.
  • One vacancy.
  • Mr. A. Deakin, C.B.E
  • Mr. A. Roberts.
  • Mr. Andrew Conley.

Chairmen of the Regional Boards:

  • Viscount Ridley, C.B.E. (Northern Region).
  • Sir Gerald B. Canny, K.C.B., K.B.E. (London and South Eastern Region).
  • Sir Percy Thomas, O.B.E., LL.D. (Wales Region).
  • Mr. S. F. Peshall, M.C. (North Midland Region).
  • Mr. W. H. Stokes (Midland Region).
  • One vacancy (Scotland Region.).
  • Mr. H. Weston Howard (Eastern Region). Mr. George Gibson, C.H., LL.D. (North Wes-tern Region).
  • Mr. G. H. Bagnall (East and West Ridings Region).
  • Lieut.-Colonel Mark' Whitwill, D.S.O., M.C., T.D.(South Western Region).
  • Sir C. Eric Palmer. D.L. (Southern Region).

The vacancy in the T.U.C. representation is due to the resignation of Lord Citrine on appointment to the National Coal Board. The vacancy in the Chairmanship of the Regional Board for Scotland is due to the recent death of Bailie Wm. Elger, D.L.

Members are appointed by the President of the Board of Trade from nominations submitted by the British Employers' Confederation, Federation of British Industries and the Trades Union Congress of persons regarded as suitable to represent the views of both sides of industry on industrial problems

The terms of reference of the Council are:

"To advise Ministers upon industrial conditions and general production questions (excluding matters which are normally handled by the joint organisations of trade unions and employers in connection with wages and conditions of employment) and on such subjects as may arise from the proceedings of the Regional Boards for Industry."

The full Council meets every two months. In addition an Emergency Committee of the Council meets as frequently as occasion requires to deal with urgent questions arising between full meetings of the Council.

The Council is advisory in character and has no regular publications but its recommendations are considered by Ministers and as necessary put into operation through the usual Government machinery. The Regional Boards for Industry, which advise Ministers and their Departments upon industrial conditions within their region, are actively supporting the production and export drive campaigns. The executive work of the campaigns, including the publication of leaflets and posters, is the responsibility of the Departments concerned.

85. Mr. Cooper

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to give the widest publicity to the system and functions of the regional boards for industry operating under the National Production Advisory Council for Industry; and how is their link with the existing trade union, technical and industrial development organisations being made clear to manufacturers, local authorities and other Government Departments so as to ensure efficient cooperation in all levels and throughout the country.

Mr. Marquand

The scope and functions of the Regional Boards for Industry were widely reported in the national Press when they were reconstituted in October, 1945. Through the National Production Advisory Council on Industry, of which the Chairmen of all the Boards are members, both sides of industry at the national level are kept fully informed of the work of the Boards.

In the regions, there is continual direct communication between the boards and large numbers of firms on such matters as the production and export campaign, salvage and recovery, the National Savings movement and fuel saving. Additionally, there are local Press reports, as necessary, on important questions with which the hoards have been concerned and occasional broadcasts of the work of the boards given by the chairmen over the B.B.C. regional network. Both sides of industry are represented on the boards and on the district committees which the boards have set up to assist them to keep in closer touch with industrial problems at district level. Further, there has been a wide circulation by the boards and the district committees of a reprint of an article explaining the work of the boards which appeared in the "Board of Trade Journal," of 6th July last, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.