Directly Affecting Britain’s Economy

Northern Advocate, 29 March 1947, Page 7

Directly Affecting Britain’s Economy

3 Announcements

(From A. Mitchell.)

(Spec., 11 a.m.)

LONDON, Mar. 28.

Three important announcements have been made during the past week directly affecting Britain’s’ economic position. . . The first was Mr Attlee s outline of fuel restrictions to be applied to domestic and non-industrial consumers during the summer. The second was the appointment ot Sir Edwin Plowden as chief Government planner. . . The third was the decision ol the TUC’s crisis committee, as it is called, to seek consultations with the Government. Though final details of the fuel restrictions are yet to be announced, it is already certain that all heating of rooms in homes, hotels and residential apartments will be banned from May to October. There will be no street lighting during the summer and in certain circumstances fuel cuts will be imposed on offices as well as homes. People are to be encouraged by a publicity campaign to save further fuel voluntarily and the Government hopes that there will be a saving of 2,500,000 tons of coal before next winter. COMPULSORY CUTS It has not yet been decided what hours shall be selected for compulsory electricity cuts and the Government is now endeavouring to reach a decision on this point and also on the months when no fires may be used for heating.

The use of gas is also to be restricted and there will be 10 per cent fewer passenger trains this summer than last. Exports of coal are to be reduced, if possible, and the question of getting coal from abroad is to be “pursued.” First priority is to be given to securing mining machinery and the Government is hopeful that the excellent resonse to recruitment of miners will result in steadily increasing output. Despite all these plans, however, the Government believes that during the six months from May to October, coal production will fall short by at least 7,000,000 tons of what industry could use.

Much will therefore depend on the principles on which industry’s curtailed supplies are allotted. It is remarked that a more thorough and complex selective plan than anything that has yet appeared is required if industry is to get the best use of available supplies. BRIGHT YOUNG MAN This is expected to be one of the main talsks of Sir Edwin Plowden who is described as Britain’s “brightest young business man.” He will start work on April 8 for a strictly limited period, though how long has not yet been decided. While the Government has taken these steps regarding the fuel positions the TUC’s committee, after its important two-day meeting, decided on a number of proposals. Several of these, it is understood, differ from Government policy and this is taken to be the reason why the committee has decided not to publish them before consultation with Labour leaders. The committee will therefore meet the Government and report back to its general council and possibly -to a larger conference of trade unions. Various reports of the committee’s meetings indicate that it will recommend the Government to adopt a twoyear “ultra-austerity” phase in which such luxury imports as films and fashions will be cut. OTHER POINTS Other points are the employment of more women rather than displaced persons, importation of more food to meet a possible food crisis, raising of the coal target above 200,000,000 tons, mobilisation of the engineering industry and revision of exports of machinery and equipment, another review of the strength of the armed forces, and rejection of the Government’s conclusions that the nation cannot afford shorter work hours unless these can be shown to increase output.

It is stated that the most controversial issue between the Government and TUC will undoubtedly be how to raise more manpower.

Meanwhile the TUC general council is placing another appeal before the British people. It is to the entire population to cooperate with the Labour Government and for people who are not engaged in helping the recovery drive, to change jobs. It is directed particularly to luxury trades and the growing army of football pool workers.