SUPPLY MINISTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 123, 27 May 1939, Page 9

SUPPLY MINISTRY

GENERAL POWERS

LIMITED SCOPE

THE BRITISH BILL

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, May 25,

The text of the Bill for the establishment of the Ministry of Supply was issued tonight. The Bill gives general powers in connection with the supply of any articles required for the Public Service, but the Minister of Supply is only to exercise the powers l-egarding supply to any other Government Department if that Department's supply powers in respect of the articles required have heen transferred to the Minister. Power is also given to the Minister to finance an accumulation of reserves by traders if that is considered . the most economic and effective way to secure the carrying out of the defence programme or, in an emergency, the maintenance of essential civil industries. NO COMPULSION OF LABOUR. Power is given to call for returns of stocks and articles required for the Public Service, and the following temporary powers are provided to secure priority for the execution of Government orders; to requisition output if exercise of the power of securing priority does not achieve the end desired; to require available storage to be placed at the disposal of the Minister; to examine the records of contractors and to fix prices in the case of difficulty occurring as between the consumer and trader on the one hand and a Government Department on the other; and to require the protection of essential plant.

It is not intended that the Ministry should at present deal with more than the supply problems of the War Office and in connection with civil defence. So far as the Admiralty and the Air Ministry are concerned, the existing supply arrangements will continue. This limitation on the scope of the Ministry is reflected in the provision for expenditure on the salaries and allowances of the Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary, and a small staff, which will not at the outset exceed £40,000 a year. Whenever the exercise of new or extended powers requires it, the staff will be increased accordingly.