CHANGES IN CABINET

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25303, 1 October 1947, Page 7

CHANGES IN CABINET

New Task Given To Sir S. Cripps ECONOMIC POLICY CO-ORDINATION (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, September 29. Mr Attlee to-night announced some British Cabinet changes. Sir Stafford Cripps has become Minister of Economic Affairs, and Mr J. H. Wilson. Secretary for Overseas Trade, will succeed Sir Stafford Cripps as President of the Board of Trade. . Mr Arthur Greenwood, Minister without Portfolio, has resigned. Sir Stafford Cripps will have overriding responsibilities for coordinating economic policy. Mr Wilson, who led the British trade delegation to Russia, will become a Privy Councillor.

Reuters diplomatic correspondent says that Mr Attlee is expected to announce a longer list of changes about the end of the week involving, it is believed, several oi the older Ministers. Mr Herbert Morrison, in addition to remaining Deputy Prime Minister, will take over Mr Greenwood’s duties.

Mr Attlee, explaining’ the changes, said: “The responsibility for co-ordin-ating economic policy has been hitherto divided. Mr Morrison co-ordinated domestic economic policy through a committee of Ministers over which he presided. separate committee handled the overseas economic policy. “The present situation calls for a much closer integration of internal and external economic policy. I now need the assistance of a senior colleague who can give his undivided attention to economic problems at home

and abroad. “The new Minister of Economic Affairs will be a Minister without Portfolio. It is not proposed to establish a department alter the pattern of the war-time Ministry of Production. Sir Stafford Cripps will have a small personal staff and the assistance of the Central Economic Planning Committee, the Economic Information Unit, and the economic section of the Cabinet Secretariat. “There will be a new Ministerial Committee on Economic Planning, whose scope will cover the major issues of both internal and external policy. The Prime Minister, in view of the gravity of the present situation, will preside over this committee for the time beifig.” Mr Attlee added: “Mr Morrison will continue to exercise co-ordinating functions in other than economic matters Mr Wilson will become a member of Cabinet. Other changes will be announced later.”

Mr Greenwood’s Resignation Mr Attlee, in his letter requesting Mr Greenwood’s resignation, said that the need to “bring on” younger members of the party made the .retirement of some of the older members inevitable. Mr Greenwood’s duties, which Mr Morrison is taking over, include the general supervision of social services and chairmanship of the Legislation Committee, which filters the flood of bills which various Ministers are anxious to introduce. Mr Greehwood performed his final act in Britain’s transfer of power to India—the supervision' of the Indian Independence Bill before it was presented to Parliament. Mr Attlee’s new plan for handling economic affairs is analagous to that adopted for defence, where there are a number of departmental Ministers with the Defence Minister co-ordin-lating policy, and also a Defence Committee, of which Mr Attlee is chair-

man. . „ _, Similarly, in the economic field, there will be departmental Ministers with Sir Stafford Cripps co-ordina-ting policy and Mr Attlee presiding over major economic matters. There will be under this general staff a chain of departments including the Board of Trade, the Ministry of Supply, the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Fuel and Power, and the Ministry of

Transport. Mr Ernest Bevin will probably be associated with the Economic Committee because of the inter-relation of economic and foreign policies. The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Dr. Hugh Dalton) is also likely to be linked with *the committee, and the Commonwealth Relations Secretary and the Colonial Secretary may also be called in.

“Big Five” . Reuters political correspondent says that the “Big Five” who are expected to direct Britain’s economic drive are Mr Attlee, Sir Stafford Cripps, Mr Herbert Morrison, Mr Ernest Bevin. and Dr. Dalton.

There is much speculation on whether Mr Shinwell will leave the Ministry of Fuel. Some quarters expect new peerages and they have mentioned Mr Arthur Greenwood, the Minister of Defence (Mr A. V. Alexander), and the Minister of Transport (Mr Alfred Barnes). If Mr Barnes goes to the House of Lords, Mr Shinwell or the Minister of Education (Mr George Tomlinson) may take his place. It is also suggested that some distinguished officers from the services may be brought in, and that the Minister of Food (Mr John Strachey) will transfer to a defence post. There is a general impression that the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Lord Addison), who is 78, may be involved in this subsequent rearrangement.