Coal Transport Lord Leathers's Big Job
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SOME indication of the functions of Lord Leathers. Secretary of State for the Co-ordination of Transport, fuel and Power, was given in the House of Commons last week by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. R. A. Butler.
• Mr. Butler said: "The problems of coal and transport • are perhaps two of _the greatest now pressing upon all of us, whatever our opinions at the present time. They underlie the whole of our economy, and success in dealing with them will lighten our burden everywhere else. Indeed, here is a Sphere in which co-ordination . . is absolutely essential."
A method of co-ordination favoured by the Labour Government, said the Chancellor, was to have a series of committees under the Cabinet to review different fields in which a number of departments was involved. "We think there is a supplementary method to the committee method which can be followed with advantage. This is particularly the case with regard to transport, which includes civil aviation as well . s road, rail and sea transport, and the great scope in the field of fuel and power," he said.
Mr. Butler was speaking in the debate on the civil supplementary estimates concerning new Ministers' salaries. Lord Leathers will receive a salary of £4,000 per annum, a Minister's normal salary as reduced by the new Government.