asked the Lord President of the Council what progress is being made by the Committee on Industrial Productivity; and when its first reports may be expected.

The Committee on Industrial Productivity held its first meeting on 4th February and, in all, the Committee and its four Panels have met 24 times this year. A wide range of possibilities for increasing industrial productivity is being examined, and on several of these promising progress is being made. Several new research projects have already been set in hand on the advice of the Committee. I am unwilling to direct the Committee's energies into preparing a formal written report at so early a stage, but I can assure hon. Members that the machinery provided by the Committee is proving effective.

As such slow progress is being made, should not this Committee set a good example in high productivity?

Let hon. Members opposite take their coats off and get on with it.

The assumption of the hon. Member is entirely false. Slow progress is not being made: it is moving quite quickly.

Then this is an exception.