§ Mr. Chetwyndasked the Minister of Works to state the terms of reference and composition of the Working Party on Building Operations in this country.
§ Mr. KeyI have now appointed the Working Party. The terms of reference are: "To inquire into (a) the organisation and efficiency of building operations in this country, including those of the specialist and sub-contracting trades; (b) the position of the professions in relation thereto; (c) the arrangements for financing operations; and (d) the types of contract in general use, and to make recommendations. Questions of wages and conditions which are dealt with by 10W the joint negotiating machinery in the industries will be outside the scope of the inquiry.
I have appointed as Chairman Sir Thomas W. Phillips, G.B.E., K.C.B., who will be retiring from the public service at the end of this year. The other members are:
Professor G. C. Allen, M.Com., Ph.D.—Economist, Professor of Political Economy. University College, London.Mr. J. Armstrong.—Member, Executive Committee National Federation of Building Trades Operatives. Secretary, Operatives' Side of the Civil Engineering Conciliation Board.Sir Hugh Beaver, M.I.C.E., M.I.Chem.E.—Managing Director of Messrs. Arthur Guinness Sons & Co., Ltd., formerly Controller-General, Ministry of Works.Sir George Burt, M.I.C.E.—Past President, Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors, Chairman, Building Research Board.Mr. R. Coppock, C.B.E.—General Secretary, National Federation of Building Trades Operatives.Mr. H. Drake.—Representative of the Federation of Associations of Specialists and Sub-Contractors. Past President, Electrical Contractors Association.Mr. H. B. Kerr, M.C., J.P., F.I.O.B.—Member of Council, National Federation of Building Trade Employers. Past President, London Master Builders Association.Councillor J. McInnes, M.B.E., J.P.—Member, Scottish Building Costs Committee. Convener of Housing Committee, Glasgow Corporation.Mr. S. J. Pears.—Chartered Accountant. Partner in Messrs. Cooper Brothers. Formerly Principal Controller of Costs, Ministry of Supply.Mr. W. T. Porteous.—President, Scottish National Building Trades Federation (Employers).Mr. B. Sandercock, O.B.E.—Vice-President, National Federation of Building Trades Operatives.Sir John Stephenson, C.B.E., J.P.—President, National Federation of Building Trades Operatives.After consultation with the professional institutions concerned I have appointed the following as assessors:Sir Lancelot Keay, K.B.E.—Past President, Royal Institute of British Architects.Mr. D. M. Watson, B.Sc.—Former Member of Council, Institution of Civil Engineers.Mr. E. H. Palmer.—Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. (Assessor for England and Wales.)Mr. H. A. Brechin.—Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. (Assessor for Scotland.)11W I shall invite other professional organisations to nominate assessors as the need arises.Mr. W. T. Lewis, Ministry of Works, will act as secretary to the Working Party.