§ 46. Mr. Geoffrey Cooperasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the succession of Cabinet casualties through illness during the last six years, resulting from the heavy strain of office, he will consider setting up an investigation into the machinery of government, with a view to reducing the strain on individual Ministers by a suitable system of decentralisation.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. CooperSince the Machinery of Government Committee of the Cabinet set up in the last Parliament is reputed to have met only twice and since then has ceased to function, and since representations were made to my right hon. Friend by a group of Labour Members suggesting that action should be taken about this very important matter, could the Prime Minister say what steps are intended to be taken by the Government with a view to something being done?
§ The Prime MinisterThe matter is considered from time to time.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsWould it not be simpler to give the whole lot a holiday and have a change?
§ Mr. Emrys HughesWould there not be less strain on Ministers if there were a greater measure of self-government for Scotland?
§ Sir Edward BoyleHave the carefully considered and entirely non-party arguments put forward by Sir John Anderson in a Romanes lecture in 1946 been carefully considered by the Government?
§ The Prime MinisterI shall have to look that up.