Catalogue description Board of Trade: Economic Affairs Office: Files (EA Series)

On the formation of the Labour Government in 1945, the Lord President of the Council was given responsibility for economic co-ordination and economic planning and was served by a Central Economic Planning Staff. He worked also through the Regional Boards for Industry which were placed formally under the Board of Trade where they were served by a small headquarters staff. In September 1947 a Minister of Economic Affairs was appointed to take over this function. The Regional Boards for Industry and the Central Economic Planning Staff were then transferred to a new Office of the Minister of Economic Affairs (Economic Affairs Office) in October 1947.

In November 1947 the Minister, Sir Stafford Cripps, became Chancellor of the Exchequer and his office was absorbed within the Treasury. A post of Economic Secretary to the Treasury was created, but was superseded briefly between March and October 1950 by the post of Minister of State for Economic Affairs. The Central Planning Staff continued until 1948 and an Economic Information Unit and the headquarters staff of the Regional Boards until 1952, when the latter was again placed under the Board of Trade.

The headquarters staff also acted as the Productivity Secretariat, serving the National Production Advisory Council on Industry and co-operating in the exchange of information with foreign productivity centres.