§ LORD STRANGasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make a statement about the work of the Panel of Businessmen, under the chairmanship of Sir Robert Bellinger who have been advising on the effective use of Civil Service manpower.
§ LORD SHACKLETONYes, my Lord. The work of the Panel is continuing, but I am glad of this opportunity to express the Government's gratitude to Sir Robert, and the members of his Panel, for so readily making available their time and the benefits of their experience. Members of the Panel have undertaken assignments in 13 Government Departments, and where these have been completed they have made reports to Permanent Secretaries of the Departments concerned. They also commented on certain general points arising from their work, and action has been taken to ensure that these are taken into account by all major Departments. I have arranged for copies of a fuller account of the work of the Panel to be placed in the Printed Paper Office.
House adjourned at nine minutes past seven o'clock.