§ 46. Lieut.-Colonel Marcus Liptonasked the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to amalgamate the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Food.
§ The Prime MinisterNone, Sir. As the hon. and gallant Member knows, the Lord President of the Council maintains the general concert of food and agriculture policy and ensures their full coordination.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs this proposal being abandoned, because if it goes Lord Woolton will have nothing to co-ordinate except his own denials at the Election, as in the case of the food subsidies?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is rather an elaborate rigmarole to express a discourteous sentiment.
§ Mr. George ChetwyndIs the Lord President of the Council too busily engaged eating his own words uttered at the Election to have any time to spare for this matter?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is not for me to raise the question of discourtesy to a member of another place.