Intervention in the Mixed Economy. The evolution of British industrial policy, 1964-72

Notes:

Deals with the nature of government industrial policy and intervention from 1964, when an interventionist Labour government was elected, to 1972 when the succeeding Tory government retreated from its policy of disengagement with private industry, analysing its most important aspects. Focuses on the private manufacturing sector. A large part of the volume is devoted to a description and analysis of the work of the Industrial Reorganisation Corp (IRC) [pp39-119]. In three parts; 1] 'industrial policy towards the private sector' - range of policies / features of industrial policy; 2] 'Industrial Reorganisation Corp' - scope of activities / internal organisation / which schemes to support / implementation / impact on economy / relationship with Whitehall / independence and accountability; 3] 'Disengagement experiment, 1970-72' - development of the concept / implementation / disengagement and the private sector; 4] 'Conclusions' - changes in industry and Whitehall / reasons for intervention / problems facing policy makers / 'continuous search for influence at the level of the firm'. Much about individual businesses subject to intervention - eg Rolls-Royce, British Leyland Motor Corp, Ransome, Hoffmann, Pollard [RHP], Upper Clyde Shipbuilders. An appendix provides an substantial diary of IRC transactions/events