§ 48. Colonel GOODMANasked the Prime Minister whether it is intended to appoint a Minister without Portfolio in succession to the right hon. Member for Hastings (Sir E. Percy)?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir.
§ 49. Lieut. - Commander FLETCHERasked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that he will not appoint a successor to the Minister without Portfolio without allocating specific duties to such a successor and providing him with a staff?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs it is not proposed to appoint a successor to my right hon. and Noble Friend the Member for Hastings this question does not arise.
§ Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, looking back over the incident, he does not think that the position of the late 2411 Minister without Portfolio during his whole tenure of office was absurd, unfair and humiliating?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe must never look back.