67. Air Commodore Harveyasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make an announcement about the regional organisation of his Department.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftYes. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply and I have decided that in each of the English Regions the Regional Offices of the two Departments should henceforward be merged into a combined unit. We are satisfied that this step will result in a saving of expenditure on staff and overhead charges, without detriment to the service which the offices give to manufacturing industry, especially in the furtherance of overseas trade. The Regional Controllers will be responsible to each Minister for the work undertaken on his behalf, and I shall, of course, consult my right hon. Friend in making appointments.