§ 47. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister if he will include the increased cost of the Security Department of the Foreign Office in recent years, in the terms of reference of the Conference of Privy Councillors, with a view to securing a reduction in general expenditure.
§ The Prime MinisterThe terms of reference to the Conference of Privy Councillors will enable them to recommend, if they think this is desirable, whether any decrease or, for that matter, increase, in the activities of the Security Department of the Foreign Office, or of any other Government Department, is called for.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Prime Minister aware that the cost of the Security Department—one section of the Foreign Office watching another, with the minimum results—has increased by £12,000 during the last three years? Is he aware that the cost of the Secret Service has increased from £2 million to £5 million in the present year? Will all this be taken into consideration? Is it true, as the Daily Express says today, that the economy drive has expired?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is a very large number of supplementary questions in one barrel. The figures given by the hon. Gentleman in the second part of his supplementary question are quite wrong. There has been no such increase as he suggests in the Secret Service Vote. Part of the increase to which he has referred arises overseas. It will certainly be open to the Conference to examine any figures it desires to examine.
§ Mr. GrimondWill the Committee be empowered to make inquiries about any Government Department other than the Foreign Office?
§ The Prime MinisterThat has at all times been so.
§ Mr. DainesDoes the Prime Minister ever get from Russia any reliable figures about this type of service, so that we can make comparisons?
§ The Prime MinisterI was hoping to get a little help from one of my questioners. I have not had any yet.