Lord Woolton and Reconstruction
In his speech in the House of Lords on Tuesday Lord Woolton was in effect answering some of the questions which were put in the Commons debate last week, ,though he did not touch on the question of his own functions, powers and method of work. Mr.
Pethick-Lawrence had asked whether, since reconstruction must be a matter of major Government policy, Lord Woolton was not in effect intended to be the Prime Minister's deputy in the sphere of reconstruction. Mr. Attlee had replied that he was in fact Chairman of the Reconstruction Committee of the Cabinet, and implied that his functions, though not requiring a large staff, involved a good deal more than merely co-ordinating the work of various departments. Lord Woolton in the Lords gave his whole attention to the Govern- ment's actual policy, more especially in regard to providing for full employment. His statement was a broad outline only, and it pro- ceeded—as one hoped—on lines now familiar. He distinguished between the three periods which may be expected after the war, one marked by a general shortage of goods, one of boom, and one when there will be danger of slump unless appropriate measures are taken. He gave the assurance that there would be an expert statistical staff to watch developments and sound warnings, and affirmed the intention of the Government to encourage at such moments capital expenditure on prepared schemes. He did not discuss the question of the control of investment, but said the Government favoured an expansionist policy. In regard to international currencies and the export trade he was also non-committal, but showed that these questions were much in his mind. His statement indicates a sound beginning, but the picture can scarcely be judged till more detail is added.
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