Catalogue description War Cabinet: Survey of Economic and Financial Plans (Stamp Survey): Minutes, Papers and Registered Files (P (E+F) and SEP Series)

Chronological within original record type classification

Following a memorandum by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in June 1939 entitled 'Survey of War Plans in the Economic and Financial Sphere', a Survey of Economic and Financial Plans was set up in the following month under the chairmanship of Lord Stamp. It was commonly known as the Stamp Survey.

The survey, which reported to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, advised on economic war plans of the government and gave guidance to the departments concerned. It dealt with general economic subjects and studied the effect of one department's plans upon the work of other departments. On 29 September Stamp was appointed adviser on Economic Co-ordination and an Interdepartmental Committee on Economic Policy was set up. In November 1939 this committee approved proposals for the establishment of a Central Economic Information Service to provide the Stamp Survey with economic and statistical material on which to base its work. This unit, later known as the Economic Section was formed in December 1940.

The Stamp Survey, whose work had already been to some extent superseded by that of the Economic Section, was finally disbanded with the development of the Central Statistical Office in January 1941, and held its last meeting on 31 March.