Power to Organise
There is a growing class of measures, enacted by the present Government, which confer powers so sweeping That, in times of less hectic legislative activity, they would be certain of an exciting passage through Parliament. Such was the Statistics for Trade Bill, but it received its second reading last week in an atmosphere closely re- sembling one of boredom. And such is the Industrial Organisation Bill, whose publication this week attracted very little notice. This Bill confers powers on any one of eight Ministers to set up develop- ment councils in any industries he chooses, which councils will have very wide functions assigned from a pretty comprehensive list set out in the first schedule to the Bill. The functions vary from the pro- motion of the production and marketing of standard products (which could involve the virtual taking over of a whole industry) to promoting the improvement of costing practice (which might involve setting out in detail the work of a single clerk). There are a number of safeguards. The Bill only proposes to confer enabling powers ; an Order must be made and submitted for the approval of both Houses before a develop- ment council can be set up ; and organisations of employers and workers must be previously consulted. But the fact remains that this Bill makes it possible for the State to intervene in practically any detail of any industry which does not happen to be nationalised and so rounds off the industrial powers of the State—and nobody seems to be very much concerned. Possible reasons for this apparent indifference are an assumption that the powers conferred, although wide, may never be used, and a suspicion that the Government already has its hands so full of industrial business that it will never have time to use them. But powers in reserve are at best an encumbrance and at worst a constitutional menace ; and the right to meddle with an industry may be almost as dangerous as the duty to run it. In some cases the Bill may do good. The provision of funds for scientific research and the improvement of design can hardly do harm. But it would he possible to feel happier about it and about Britain's political future, if the watchdogs had barked a little louder,
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