§ 61. Mr. Blackburnasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet appointed the members of the National Research Development Corporation; and from what date the Corporation will commence to operate.
§ Mr. H. WilsonAs I said in the answers I gave to Questions on this subject on 14th March and 27th January, we have had a good deal of difficulty in finding the right men to direct the unusual and difficult work which the Corporation will have to do, and I am not yet in a position to announce the appointment of the Chairman or any member of the Board except the Managing Director. The Corporation cannot, therefore, yet come into existence, since under the terms of the Act, at least six Directors, including the Chairman and the Managing Director, must he appointed for it to do so.
I am, however, glad to be able to announce that Lord Halsbury, now Research Manager and Works Manager of Decca Record Co., Ltd., has accepted my invitation to become the Managing Director of the Corporation as soon as it can he set up. In order to assist me in handling the many problems involved, I have in the meantime appointed Lord Halsbury as Adviser to the Board of Trade on matters connected with the Corporation. This appointment will date from 1st June and will continue until the corporation is formally established. Lord Halsbury has had a distinguished career in industrial research, and also has experience of works management. I am satisfied that I could not have found a man whose gifts and training more fitted him for this post.