§ 45. Captain ERSKINE-BOLSTasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of setting up a committee to examine the possibility of abolishing certain Ministries whose work could, with advantage to the public, be substantially reduced and administered by other Ministries?
§ The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Baldwin)My hon. and gallant Friend will recall the statements which the Chancellor of the Exchequer made during the Debates on the Finance Bill in regard to the possibilities of reductions in national expenditure. I do not, however, think that it would be of advantage to appoint a committee for the purpose suggested in this question, and I would refer in this connection to the reply which the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leeds (Mr. Adams) on 14th April last.
§ Sir B. PETOHas my right hon. Friend in mind the fact that the late Mr. Bonar Law proposed to abolish the Ministry of Pensions in 1922, 10 years ago, and does he not think, without waiting for any further inquiry, that the care of the remaining War pensioners could be well divided between the three Service Departments?
§ Mr. BALDWINThat question, together with the position of the so-called new Departments, that is the Departments created during and since the War, has been under repeated revision between 917 that date and the present day, and no doubt such revision will be made in the future.
§ Mr. MAXTONDid not the right hon. Gentleman himself announce his decision five or six years ago to abolish two Ministries? Is not the time now opportune for carrying out that decision?
§ Mr. BALDWINThat is quite true, and I regret to say that at that time further and closer examination convinced us that there was nothing in it.