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THIS
DOCUMENT
IS
THE
PROPERTY
Printed
OF
HIS
BRITANNIC
for the Cabinet.
July
MAJESTY'8
GOVERNMENT
1947
1
SECRET
Copy No.
C M . (47)
5 9 t h Conclusions
C A B I N E T 59 ( 4 7 )
CONCLUSIONS
of a Meeting of the Cabinet held at 1 0 Downing
on Thursday,
3rd July, 1947, at 11 a.m.
Street,
S.W. 1,
Present
T h e R i g h t H o n . C . R . A T T L E E , M P . , P r i m e M i n i s t e r (in the
Chair)
The R i g h t Hon. HERBERT MORRISON,
M . P . , L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council.
The R i g h t Hon. H U G H DALTON, M . P . ,
Chancellor of t h e E x c h e q u e r .
The R i g h t H o n . A R T H U R GREENWOOD,
M.P., Minister without Portfolio.
The R i g h t H o n . S i r STAFFORD C R I P P S ,
K . C . , M . P . , P r e s i d e n t of t h e B o a r d
of T r a d e .
The R i g h t Hon. A . V . ALEXANDER, The R i g h t Hon. VISCOUNT JOWITT,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of Defence.
L o r d Chancellor.
The R i g h t Hon. J . CHUTER E D E , M . P . , The R i g h t H o n . VISCOUNT ADDISON,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for t h e H o m e
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for D o m i n i o n
Department.
Affairs.
The R i g h t Hon. J . WESTWOOD, M . P . , The R i g h t Hon. A . CREECH JONES,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r S c o t l a n d .
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r t h e
Colonies.
The
Right
Hon.
THE
EARL
OF
L I S T O W E L , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
I n d i a a n d S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
Burma.
The R i g h t Hon. E . SHINWELL, M . P . ,
M i n i s t e r of F u e l a n d P o w e r .
The Right Hon. T. WILLIAMS, M . P . ,
Minister
of
Agriculture
and
Fisheries.
The R i g h t Hon. G . A . ISAACS, M.P.,
Minister
Service.
of L a b o u r
and
National
The R i g h t Hon. ANEURIN BEVAN, M.P.,
M i n i s t e r of H e a l t h .
The R i g h t H o n . GEORGE TOMLINSON,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of E d u c a t i o n .
T h e following w e r e also p r e s e n t :
The R i g h t H o n . J O H N STRACHEY, M . P . ,
M i n i s t e r of Food.
The R i g h t Hon. HECTOR M C N E I L , M . P . ,
M i n i s t e r of S t a t e (Item 3).
The Right
Hon. LEWIS
SILKIN,
Secretariat:
[34109-5]
M.P.,
M i n i s t e r of T o w n a n d C o u n t r y
P l a n n i n g (Item 2).
The Right Hon. WILLIAM WHITELEY,
M.P.,
Parliamentary
Secretary,
T r e a s u r y (Item 1).
Mr.
W . S. M U R R I E .
Mr.
S. E . V . L U K E .
B
4
C A B I N E T 59 (47)
CONTENTS
Minute
No.
Subject
Parliament
....
....
Page
....
....
--­-
127
B u s i n e s s i n t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s .
B e p o r t of t h e C o m m i t t e e o f P r i v i l e g e s .
Town and Country Planning Bills
C o n s t i t u t i o n of t h e C e n t r a l L a n d
Malaya
Future
127
Board.
........
....
....
....
....
...
128
Constitution.
Wages Policy
Agricultural
....
Wages.
....
129
1. T h e C a b i n e t w e r e i n f o r m e d of t h e business to be t a k e n in
t h e H o u s e of Commons i n the following week.
Parliament.
Business
the
in
House
of
T h e R e p o r t S t a g e of t h e Town and Country Planning
(Scotland)
Bill would be t a k e n on 7 t h J u l y .
On 8th J u l y t h e r e would be a d e b a t e on t h e Import
Programme.
T h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t would speak a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of the d e b a t e a n d
t h e Chancellor of t h e E x c h e q u e r w o u l d w i n d u p .
9 t h J u l y w o u l d be t h e first d a y of the R e p o r t S t a g e of t h e
Finance
Bill.
I t w a s h o p e d to t a k e the Second R e a d i n g of t h e
Indian
Independence
Bill on 10th J u l y a n d t h e r e m a i n i n g stages on
14th J u l y . I n view of t h e difficulties i n m a i n t a i n i n g t h e I n t e r i m
G o v e r n m e n t in I n d i a , i t w a s most desirable t h a t the B i l l should
become l a w as soon as possible, a n d the a i m w a s to secure i t s p a s s a g e
by 2 0 t h J uly.
T h e T h i r d R e a d i n g of the Town and- Country Planning
(Scot­
land) BUI w o u l d be t a k e n on 11th J u l y . I t h a d been a g r e e d t h a t the
d e b a t e should occupy only t w o h o u r s in o r d e r t h a t progress m i g h t
be m a d e w i t h o t h e r business.
R e p o r t of t h e
The Lord President, said t h a t h e p r o p o s e d to resist a n y suggestion t h a t t h e r e should be an i m m e d i a t e debate on t h e M o t i o n p u t
down by c e r t a i n O p p o s i t i o n M e m b e r s r e l a t i n g to the R e p o r t of the
C o m m i t t e e of P r i v i l e g e s on t h e c o m p l a i n t m a d e t o t h e H o u s e on
behalf of M r . W . J . B r o w n , M . P . I t would, however, be impossible
t o a v o i d a d e b a t e on t h i s M o t i o n l a t e r i n t h e m o n t h , a n d t h e C a b i n e t
o u g h t to consider t h e issues r a i s e d by it.
Commons.
Committee
of
Privileges.
The C a b i n e t I n v i t e d t h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t to c i r c u l a t e a m e m o r a n d u m on
t h e issues r a i s e d in t h e M o t i o n r e l a t i n g to t h e R e p o r t of the
C o m m i t t e e of P r i v i l e g e s o n the c o m p l a i n t m a d e to t h e
H o u s e on behalf of M r . W . J . B r o w n , M . P .
Town
and
2. T h e C a b i n e t considered a m e m o r a n d u m by t h e S e c r e t a r y
of S t a t e for S c o t l a n d ( C P . (47) 192) about the c o n s t i t u t i o n of t h e
C e n t r a l L a n d B o a r d w h i c h i t w a s p r o p o s e d ,to establish for t h e
p u r p o s e s of t h e E n g l i s h a n d S c o t t i s h T o w n a n d C o u n t r y P l a n n i n g
Bills.
Country
Planning
Bills. Constitution of t h e
Land
Central Board. (Previous Reference:
C M . (46) 107th
Conclusions, Minute
4.) The Secretary of State for Scotland e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e E n g l i s h
B i l l p r o v i d e d t h a t t h e M i n i s t e r of T o w n a n d C o u n t r y P l a n n i n g
a n d he should j o i n t l y a p p o i n t the B o a r d a n d the Scottish Bill
p r o v i d e d t h a t in c a r r y i n g out t h e i r f u n c t i o n s in S c o t l a n d the B o a r d
would be subject to d i r e c t i o n s given by himself.
D u r i n g the Com­
m i t t e e S t a g e he h a d resisted a n O p p o s i t i o n a m e n d m e n t p r o v i d i n g
for the a p p o i n t m e n t of a Scottish C o m m i t t e e of the B o a r d to w h o m
t h e B o a r d m i g h t delegate a n y of t h e i r functions u n d e r the Scottish
Bill, b u t h a d u n d e r t a k e n to a m e n d t h e Bill to p r o v i d e t h a t t h e B o a r d
should m a i n t a i n i n S c o t l a n d a staff sufficient for the p r o p e r per­
formance of S c o t t i s h business. T h e p r o p o s a l for a Scottish Com­
m i t t e e h a d been pressed a g a i n d u r i n g t h e Committee S t a g e of t h e
E n g l i s h Bill in t h e H o u s e of. L o r d s a n d t h e L o r d Chancellor h a d
s t a t e d t h a t if, w h e n t h e S c o t t i s h Bill w a s before t h e H o u s e of L o r d s ,
he received i n s t r u c t i o n s to accept a n a m e n d m e n t of t h i s k i n d h e
w o u l d d o so very readily.
T h e case for t h e a p p o i n t m e n t of a
Scottish C o m m i t t e e of the B o a r d w a s very w e a k a n d if t h e p r o p o s a l
m a d e by t h e O p p o s i t i o n were accepted i t Avould be extremely difficult
to resist p r e s s u r e for similar a r r a n g e m e n t s u n d e r t h e T r a n s p o r t
B i l l a n d the E l e c t r i c i t y Bill. Moreover, an a m e n d m e n t p r o v i d i n g
for t h e a p p o i n t m e n t of a S c o t t i s h C o m m i t t e e w o u l d m a k e it
necessary to r e c o m m i t t h e S c o t t i s h Bill, w h i c h would involve delay.
F o r these reasons h e proposed to r e s i s t t h e p r o p o s a l for a Scottish
C o m m i t t e e of t h e B o a r d . H e would, however, like to be able to
a n n o u n c e t h a t t h e r e would be a p p o i n t e d to t h e B o a r d a t least t w o
[34109-5]
B
2
m e m b e r s w i t h special k n o w l e d g e of S c o t t i s h conditions a n d that
h e h o p e d t h a t t h e qualifications of one or other of t h e m would
m a k e h i m suitable for a p p o i n t m e n t as D e p u t y C h a i r m a n .
The Minister of Town and Country Planning
s a i d t h a t , in his
view, t h e establishment of a s e p a r a t e S c o t t i s h B o a r d or of a Scottish
C o m m i t t e e of t h e B o a r d could be justified on administrative
g r o u n d s . H e recognised, however, t h a t to y i e l d to t h e Opposition
i n t h i s m a t t e r w o u l d e m b a r r a s s the M i n i s t e r of F u e l a n d Power
a n d t h e M i n i s t e r of T r a n s p o r t a n d he h a d n o objection to the course
w h i c h t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for Scotland proposed to follow.
I n discussion it w a s u r g e d by some M i n i s t e r s t h a t t h e demand
f o r s e p a r a t e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r S c o t l a n d i n t h i s and
o t h e r fields could n o t be justified on m e r i t s a n d w a s not backed
b y a n y s u b s t a n t i a l body of Scottish o p i n i o n . Moreover, a n y con­
cessions m a d e were likely to lead to d e m a n d s for s i m i l a r treatment
from Wales.
On the other h a n d , i t w a s p o i n t e d out t h a t , while i t would be
u n d e s i r a b l e to have a s e p a r a t e B o a r d for S c o t l a n d or even a Scottish
C o m m i t t e e of the B o a r d , t h e a r r a n g e m e n t s proposed by the
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for S c o t l a n d for the m a i n t e n a n c e in Scotland of
a staff sufficient for t h e p r o p e r p e r f o r m a n c e of Scottish business and
for t h e a p p o i n t m e n t t o t h e B o a r d of two members w i t h special
knowledge of Scottish conditions were reasonable in view of the
differences between t h e E n g l i s h a n d Scottish systems of l a n d tenure.
The Cabinet—
(1) A g r e e d t h a t , i n r e s i s t i n g any p r e s s u r e from t h e Opposition
for the establishment of a Scottish C o m m i t t e e of the
C e n t r a l L a n d B o a r d , the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for Scotland
should a n n o u n c e t h a t there w o u l d be a p p o i n t e d to the
B o a r d a t least two members w i t h special knowledge of
S c o t t i s h conditions, b u t should n o t suggest t h a t one or
other of these members m i g h t be a p p o i n t e d a s Deputy
Chairman.
(2) A g r e e d t h a t in t h e selection of members of t h e C e n t r a l Land
" B o a r d t h e possibility of a p p o i n t i n g a member with
special k n o w l e d g e of W e l s h conditions should be
considered.
Malaya.
Future
Constitution,
(Previous
Eeference:
C M . (46) 103rd
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 5?)
3.
X h e C a b i n e t considered a m e m o r a n d u m by t h e S e c r e t a r y of
S t a t e for t h e Colonies ( C P . (47) 187) about t h e f u t u r e constitution
of M a l a y a .
Secretary
of State for the Colonies
recalled t h a t on
5 t h December, 1946, the C a b i n e t h a d p r o v i s i o n a l l y a p p r o v e d certain
revised proposals for a n e w f e d e r a l c o n s t i t u t i o n for M a l a y a . These
p r o p o s a l s h a d since been discussed w i t h both t h e n o n - M a l a y a n d the
M a l a y communities, a n d b r o a d a g r e e m e n t h a d been reached. I t had
n o t been necessary t o suggest a n y d e p a r t u r e from t h e basic aim of
c r e a t i n g a s t r o n g c e n t r a l government w i t h a common citizenship
o p e n to a l l who h a d a d o p t e d M a l a y a a s t h e i r t r u e home, b u t it
w a s p r o p o s e d t o modify i n c e r t a i n respects the p r o p o s a l s relating
t o t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of elections, t h e a c q u i s i t i o n of c i t i z e n s h i p and
t h e composition of t h e C e n t r a l L e g i s l a t u r e . I t h a d n o t been possible
fully to reconcile M a l a y a n d n o n - M a l a y views on t h e last two
m a t t e r s , a n d a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e M a l a y s h a d still to be reached
on t h e question of t h e control of i m m i g r a t i o n policy, w h i l e their
d e m a n d t h a t t h e M a l a y R u l e r s should i n f u t u r e have t h e r i g h t of
concurrence i n the a p p o i n t m e n t of successive H i g h Commissioners
w o u l d h a v e t o be rejected. I t w a s n o t proposed t h a t Singapore
should f o r m p a r t of the F e d e r a t i o n of M a l a y a a t t h e outset, though
i t m i g h t be f o u n d desirable to include i t l a t e r . H e proposed that,
a s soon as a g r e e m e n t h a d been reached w i t h t h e M a l a y s on out­
s t a n d i n g p o i n t s , a n a n n o u n c e m e n t of t h e G o v e r n m e n t s decisions
should be m a d e i n P a r l i a m e n t a n d a s u m m a r y of t h e proposals should
be p u b l i s h e d as a W h i t e P a p e r .
The Secretary of Stats for India asked t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t of
I n d i a should receive a d v a n c e i n f o r m a t i o n of the a n n o u n c e m e n t .
The C a b i n e t Took n o t e , w i t h a p p r o v a l , of t h e r e s u l t s of t h e f u r t h e r
c o n s u l t a t i o n s i n M a l a y a o n t h e f u t u r e c o n s t i t u t i o n , and
i n v i t e d t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for the Colonies to proceed
a s p r o p o s e d i n p a r a g r a p h 7 of C P . (47) 187.
Wages Policy.
Agricultural
Wages.
(Previous
Reference:
C M . (47) 4 4 t h
Conclusions
Minute
4.)
4. The Minister
of Agriculture
d r e w t h e a t t e n t i o n of the
Cabinet to t h e decision of t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l W a g e s B o a r d in favour
of i n c r e a s i n g t h e m i n i m u m w a g e of a g r i c u l t u r a l w o r k e r s from £ 4
to £ 4 105. a week. I t h a d been e s t i m a t e d t h a t t h e l a s t increase of
10s. in t h e m i n i m u m w a g e w o u l d a d d £18-J million a year t o f a r m e r s '
costs a n d i t was clear t h a t the G o v e r n m e n t w o u l d be asked to review
a g r i c u l t u r a l p r i c e s i n o r d e r t o t a k e account of t h i s fresh increase.
I n discussion i t w a s p o i n t e d out t h a t t h e increase i n the
m i n i m u m w a g e of a g r i c u l t u r a l w o r k e r s w a s likely to l e a d t o a p p l i ­
cations for h i g h e r w a g e s from o t h e r r u r a l w o r k e r s , such as roadmen,
a n d w o u l d m a k e i t difficult to resist t h e claims of b u i l d i n g w o r k e r s .
The
Cabinet­
(1) I n v i t e d t h e M i n i s t e r of L a b o u r to consider w h a t steps m i g h t
be t a k e n to p r e v e n t t h e decision of the A g r i c u l t u r a l
W a g e s B o a r d f r o m l e a d i n g to increases i n t h e w a g e s of
other r u r a l workers.
(2) A g r e e d to discuss the g e n e r a l q u e s t i o n of w a g e s policy a t
t h e i r m e e t i n g on 8 t h J u l y .
Cabinet Office, S.W. 1,
3rd July, 1947.