Mixed Feelings Over White-Paper Debate

Northern Advocate, 14 March 1947, Page 5

Mixed Feelings Over White-Paper Debate

(Special. 10.0 a.m.) LONDON, Mar. 13. The three-day debate in the House of Commons on Britain’s economic position ended with mixed feelings. On one hand it is agreed that the Government has added some definite information to the White Paper; there is to be an increase in the planning staff for industry raid a five-year plan is being prepared. On the other hand, it is felt that the country still lacks a strong lead from the Government.

The position, it is being said, remains as it was, with the country still awaiting what The Times calls “a plain policy for productivity.”

There is to be no direction of labour; miners are to have their five-day week; and 100.000 new recruits are to be found for the coal industry. COALITION NOT WANTED

The Government is not abandoning its party programme and the Conservatives have not produced an alternative policy. The Opposition reiterated, through Mr Churchill, that it did not desire a coalition.

The _ feeling that Britain's armed forces should be reduced has, if anything, increased, and is supported by Mr Churchill, who believes there is room for “slimming the services.” Though probably greater publicity was given to Mr Churchill's speech on the final day. it was plain that Labour members who had talked so vigorously to Mr Attlee before the debate began found his reply satisfying, congratulated him and applauded him happily. Chief attention is now being paid to Mr Attlee’s comments on the Government five-year plan. DETAILS AWAITED Preliminary work, he said, was well advanced, and the Government intended to suggest to various organisations the formation of small boards working with the Government's planning staff. Consultation was going on all the time, and the full cooperation of industry was desired. Details of this plan, and the appointment of the full-time executive head of the new inter-departmental planning staff mentioned by Sir Stafford Cripps are now awaited with interest. It is stated that several names are being considered, including Sir John Anderson, Sir Godfrey Ince, Sir Andrew Duncan, Sir George Nelson, Sir Robert Sinclair, Sir Graham Cunningham and Sir Archibald Rowlands.