CONFIDENTIAL
2.
(b) TUC/CBI Interest
By the terms of his letter of 25 May, 1976 Mr Crosland committed the Office to consider jointly with the TUC and the CBI what next should be done when the report to be produced by Professor Turner by the end of 1976 was available. We have since proceeded on the assumption that the report would be considered by the OLCC, on which the TUC and CBI are represented. This year, the OLCC is scheduled to meet on
29 April. On the other hand hand Professor Turner has said
that the end of April will be far too late for him to consider taking on an extension. There is little doubt in my mind that Professor Turner is trying to bulldoze us into a commitment. However, it is quite possible that by April he will have taken on another commitment for 1977, and that if we do not make a proposal to him by, say, the end of March, we will be faced with the dilemma either of waiting until 1978 for the completion of the study or of taking on another academic to complete it. I do not believe that Professor Turner would co-operate
and assist another expert to complete his study. I have consulted the Overseas Labour Adviser who has suggested that if Ministers agree, he should tell the TUC and CBI at the same time that he sends them copies of the interim report that
because of the need to 'book® Professor Turner and his team
by the end of March, it has been necessary to decide within the Office to ask Professor Turner to complete his study. This should not prevent a discussion of the interim report at the OLCC meeting, nor prevent the TUC and CBI proposing terms of reference for the extended study.
I recommend that (a) the Overseas Labour Adviser be authorized
to tell the TUC and CBI of the extension of Professor Turner's study; (b) that I be authorized to make application for FCO funds to the extent of £4,000 and approach Professor Turner to extend the study.
4 March 1977
C01
PS
PS/PUS
PS/Mr Luard
OLA : Mr Lipsey
JAB Stewart Hong Kong Department
3
CONFIDENTIAL