24 SEPTEMBER 1965, Page 11

Overtrumped George Brown's inch-thick National Plan has now been smartly

overtrumped. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) have issued their own Plant—one-and- half inches thick. But then, this one goes on to 1975. Those who doubt the infallibility of targets, at a range of five to ten years, will find quiet en- joyment in comparing and contrasting the two documents. The target for coal, for instance, which the Government put down at 170 million tons, is popped back to 200 million tons by NIESR--which is one up for Lord Robens.