HC Deb 28 September 1944 vol 403 cc412-3
45. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the development and extension of the matters dealt with by the Board of Trade, he will consider sub-dividing this Department into three, with someone at the head of each Department directly responsible to the Government, having regard to the impossibility of any one Minister being able adequately to control the expansion which has taken place since the outbreak of hostilities.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)

No, Sir.

Mr. De la Bgre

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is urgent need for an overhaul at the Board of Trade? Is he not further aware that many of the systems want recasting now? It is impossible to cope with the various matters now under the existing system.

Mr. Eden

My hon. Friend's suggestion, so far as I understand it, is that there should be three more Ministries. This might be a tempting point-of-view for the Government but not necessarily I think a judicious one.

Mr. De to Bgre

What I am asking is that there shall be an overhaul.

Mr. Shinvvell

Can we not expect that some of the existing Ministers may go as we are reaching the end of the wargfor instance, the Ministers of Production and Information?