Campbell Adamson - Recruitment By The CBI

Recruitment By The CBI

At the end of April 1969, Adamson left the Department of Economic Affairs, just as rumours circulated that the Department would be abolished. He intended to seek another position in the steel business. In the meantime he decided to take a long holiday and go on a three month safari drive across the Sahara with his wife. Just as they were about to depart, John Davies telephoned to tell Adamson that he was about to leave his job as Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry and to suggest that Adamson put his name forward. The Adamsons went on their holiday as arranged, leaving poste restante addresses in Algiers and Cairo, and it was at the latter where Adamson received the letter formally inviting him to take up the post.

Adamson accepted his new post, declaring as he did so that he was firmly supportive of the Government's application for membership of the European Common Market. In his first major policy speech he stressed the need for investment in modern plant and equipment. In his first year he opposed plans by the Labour government to merge the Monopolies Commission and the Prices and Incomes Board, plans which were dropped when the Labour government was defeated.