– in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 27 Ionawr 1947.
Sir Herbert Butcher
, Holland with Boston
12:00,
27 Ionawr 1947
asked the Prime Minister what further steps, in addition to the issue of a white paper, he proposes to take to enable both sides of industry to discharge their responsibilities in the light of the economic situation of the country.
Mr Clement Attlee
, Stepney Limehouse
The question is very wide, but, so far as the recent white paper (Command Paper 7018) is concerned, all possible steps will be taken to inform both sides of industry of the facts and considerations presented in the White Paper. These facts and considerations will form the basis of talks by speakers in factories, and the Central Office of Information are now working on a series of factory posters setting out the salient features of the paper. It is hoped, also, that the subject matter of the paper will be fully covered in broadcasts. As will be seen from the Foreword to the White Paper, the National Joint Advisory Council has agreed to cooperate with the Government in disseminating information as widely as possible about the general economic state of the country. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service proposes to discuss with the National Joint Advisory Council certain important problems to which the White Paper draws attention.
Sir Herbert Butcher
, Holland with Boston
Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the suggestion in "The Times" of Saturday last that the Labour policy of the Government is failing to keep pace with the march of events?
Mr Clement Attlee
, Stepney Limehouse
I am afraid that I missed that one.
Colonel Leonard Ropner
, Barkston Ash
Is it proposed to issue a second white paper as a supplement to the first, as has also been suggested by the Press, and, if so, when?
Mr Clement Attlee
, Stepney Limehouse
Not as a supplement to the first. We have proposed to issue later on a fuller white paper. [HON. MEMBERS: "When?"] This one was issued particularly in regard to the work of the joint council. There will be another one later on, but I cannot give the exact date.
Captain Harry Crookshank
, Gainsborough
Did the right hon. Gentleman say that it will be disseminated by broadcasting? I thought that was what I heard. If so, may I ask whether it is to be disseminated by a Minister of the Crown, or by members of the Labour Party, or by impartial people?
Mr Clement Attlee
, Stepney Limehouse
I said it was hoped that the subject matter in the white paper would be fully covered by broadcasts. With regard to the other part of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's supplementary question, I should have to have notice before replying.
Lieut-Commander Joseph Braithwaite
, Holderness
It there is to be dissemination by His Majesty's Ministers, will the Prime Minister arrange for counter-dissemination by representatives of the Opposition?
Mr Clement Attlee
, Stepney Limehouse
That is a hypothetical question. "Dissemination" is not my word, nor did I suggest it would be applied.
Mr Stanley Prescott
, Darwen
Could the Prime Minister be a little more specific as to when a second white paper will be issued? Will it be in a week or a month?
Mr Clement Attlee
, Stepney Limehouse
It certainly will not be in a week. I cannot say exactly how many weeks.
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
