HC Deb 12 December 1977 vol 941 cc73-4W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who will be the new Director General of the National Economic Development Council; whether he will advertise this vacancy as advised by the TUC; and whether in future he will arrange for all appointments to Government boards and like position to be advertised and appointments made on a competitive basis according to declared and known skills and abilities of the applicants.

Mr. Healey

I announced at the meeting of the National Economic Development Council on 7th December that the post of Director-General of NEDO will be advertised. I am responsible for very

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AT CONSTANT 1970 MARKET PRICES
Average annual rates of growth
1952–64 1965–70 1971–74 1975
Canada 4.9 5.1 5.6 0.5
United States 3.2 3.6 3.1 -1.6
Japan 9.1* 10.5 6.1 2.4
Belgium 4.0† 4.6 5.0 -2.0
Denmark 4.2 4.4 2.8 0.7
France 4.7 5.5 4.8 -1.0
Germany 7.3 4.9 3.0 -3.2
Irish Republic 2.4 4.3 3.4 -0.3
Italy 5.6 5.5 3.7 -3.7
Luxembourg 3.6‡ 3.0 4.3 -7.7
Netherlands 4.8 5.6 4.2 -1.1
United Kingdom 2.7 2.3 2.8 -1.6
* 1953–64
† 1954–64
‡ 1961–64
Source: National Accounts of OECD countries 1975 (Volume 1).
Rate growth have been calculated by expressing at a compound rate of growth the changes in GDP between the years 1951 and 1964, 1964 and 1970,1970 and 1974, and 1974 and 1975 repectively
Figures for 1976 from international sources are not yet available.
The figures for the United Kingdom are consistent with those given in National Income and Expenditure 1966–76. Between 1974 and 1976 the average annual rate of growth in the United Kingdom gross domestic product at 1970 market prices was 0.5 per cent.

few paid public appointments, but I do consider the use of advertising when the circumstances appear to warrant it.