HC Deb 19 November 1928 vol 222 cc1375-6
48. Mr. BECKETT

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government have finally decided not to abolish the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Mines, and the Department of Overseas Trade, as suggested in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement and in his own statement of 21st December, 1927?

49. Mr. R. MORRISON

asked the Prime Minister whether it is still the policy of the Government to abolish the Ministry of Transport and the Departments of Mines and Overseas Trade as soon as Parliamentary opportunity permits?

The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)

I am not prepared to add anything to what I have already said on this subject.

Mr. MORRISON

Does the light hon. Gentleman not realise that it must be very unsatisfactory for those who are employed in these Departments not to know whether they still remain under sentence of death?

The PRIME MINISTER

If the hon. Member will look at the last paragraph of the answer that I gave on 21st December last, he will see that I said that the matter to be dealt with must be treated as a non-controversial question. There is no chance of that, and there is therefore no chance of anything being done in the lifetime of the present Parliament. If the hon. Gentleman or those behind him will put a question to me in the next Parliament, I will endeavour to give him an answer.

Mr. MORRISON

Will the Prime Minister add to the information that he has given us by saying definitely whether it is still the policy of the Government to abolish the three departments?

The PRIME MINISTER

Yes, but from the answer the hon. Gentleman will see that it is impossible to demolish them before the House rises and that, therefore, the question does not arise.

Mr. BECKETT

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that last week he stated that he had replied to this question on 21st December, 1927, and that he was kind enough to send me a copy of the reply, which was no reply at all; and is he aware that the country is rather anxious to know what he proposes to do with these departments in the unlikely event of the Conservatives returning to office?

The PRIME MINISTER

We shall consider whether we shall put it in our election address.