Catalogue description Records of the Industrial Division

The division went through changes of name, structure and objectives during its lifetime. It was set up in accordance with terms of reference and a programme of work devised by the chief industrial advisor to the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA). Initially, it had no staff and it was referred to by its operational function 'Industrial Policies'.

The division's function became honed to form the more specific Industrial Policy Division between 1965 and 1967. The staff then comprised two discrete components working together: (1) permanent civil service officers headed by a deputy secretary; and (2) six full-time industrial advisors seconded to the DEA for periods of up to two years, together with a part-time advisor on management education, all of whom had direct access to ministers.

The overall task of the DEA's Industrial Division was threefold: to promote efficiency in industry; to establish and maintain working relations between the DEA and the National Economic Development Council (NEDC) and related organisations; to provide advice on industrial questions and ensure good communications between the government and both sides of industry. In particular it had to ensure that the National Plan was based on the best industrial information; to advise on the impact of taxation on industrial performance; to advise on British industrial investment overseas; to advise on the means of obtaining industrial investment in the regions; to advise on presentation of DEA's policies. It was responsible for the establishment of the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation (IRC) in 1966. The Division was responsible for the DEA's representation on various industrial economic committees.

Between 1967 and 1968 the Industrial Policy Division merged with a division of the Economic Co-ordination (Home) Department to become the Industrial, Prices and Incomes Department. When responsibility for prices and incomes policy, and a large number of departmental staff, were transferred to the new Department of Employment and Productivity in April 1968, it was re-constituted as the Industrial Group.

The Industrial Group, to which the DEA's six industrial advisors were attached, had two divisions: one concerned with public sector, the other with private sector, industry. From general policy-making its duties became more particular, with less of a lead role. Its responsibilities included briefing on industrial policy; maintaining a good working relationship with officers of the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation (IRC); the nationalised industries; NEDC; North Sea Gas, fuel policy and the construction industries.

Following the disbanding of the DEA in 1969, responsibility for both industrial planning and the IRC was taken over by the Ministry of Technology.