Front Cover

A file containing the minutes of forty-seven meetings of the Lord President's Committee on domestic affairs during the Second World War. The documents discuss the committee's preparations for the end of the Second World War, with the committee predicting that the cessation of hostilities with Germany will result in extensive {iq}absenteeism{iq} amongst the British workforce. The documents also cover the demobilisation of the British armed forces after Victory in Europe Day, marking the end of the war with Germany; and the committee's surprise at Japan's surrender, which enabled a significant number of workers to return to British industry and agriculture. Other documents discuss the initial stages of the nationalisation of several key British industries, including the coalmines and the railways; and the shipping of food supplies to the British sector of Germany, which is suffering from severe food shortages.