HC Deb 14 May 1952 vol 500 cc1434-5
47. Mr. Jay

asked the Prime Minister over which Departmental Ministers the Paymaster-General exercises supervisory functions.

The Prime Minister

The only supervisory functions affecting other Departments performed by the Paymaster-General are those in regard to atomic energy, of which I informed the House in my reply to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Vauxhall (Mr. G. R. Strauss) on 24th March.

Mr. Jay

As this is a matter of supervision, can the Prime Minister say whether, on the matters supervised, the Parliamentary responsibility in this case is borne by the overlord or the underling? Can he also tell us why the Minister of Supply is singled out for this particular humiliation?

The Prime Minister

These distinctions between the overlord and the underlord come very ill from one who was a Member of a Government which had practically as many noble Lords in the Administration as we have. The Leader of the Opposition boasted that he kept it all very secret, but if we are looking for overlords we should not have very far to search.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is the Prime Minister aware that we on this side of the House will resist to the utmost any diminution in the status, dignity and responsibilities of the present Minister of Supply?

The Prime Minister

I am very much obliged to the hon. and gallant Gentleman for this assurance. I did use one word which was wrong just now. [HON. MEMBERS: "Only one?"] I should have said "underling."

Mr. Jay

Can the Prime Minister tell us how many noble Lords there are in the present Cabinet and how many there were in the last?

The Prime Minister

I looked up the statistics a little while ago, but I have not got them at my fingers' end.