§ 46. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister if he will consider strengthening the department that advises him on economic affairs.
§ The Prime MinisterThe volume of advice which I already receive from many quarters on economic affairs—including the advice the hon. Member is, no doubt, about to give me—is formidable. I see no present need to add to it.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Prime Minister aware that he is rather weak on oil? Is he further aware that he delivered a series of what the Observer called dangerously misleading slogans last weekend on the subject of the Middle East, and argued that if we did not have Cyprus and if we did not have oil, we would have hunger and unemployment? Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Foreign Secretary to ask the Government of Sweden how the Swedes get oil without any bases in the Middle East?
§ The Prime MinisterThat would be a very interesting exercise, and Sweden can no doubt take her responsibility. There is not the slightest doubt that the economy of this country and of its neighbours in Western Europe depends upon oil from the Middle East.
§ Mr. StracheyWould not the Prime Minister consider appointing in this respect his new supporter Mr. Khrushchev who, I see, said yesterday, "I am for the Conservatives"?
§ The Prime MinisterI have tried to make a rule not to interfere in the internal affairs of foreign countries.