§ 49. Mr. I. Mikardoasked the Prime Minister what is the present total number of paid appointments in His Majesty's Government; and what was the number at the date of the dissolution of the last Parliament.
§ The Prime MinisterEighty and 81 respectively.
§ Mr. MikardoHow does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile the answer he has just given with the suggestions constantly made by his hon. Friends in the last Parliament that the then Government had far too many Ministers and that their number ought to be seriously reduced?
§ The Prime MinisterWe must not lose sight at all of our main objectives. At the same time, the point of view somewhat alters as events develop.