§ 46. Mr. F. Peartasked the Prime Minister if he will now appoint a Parliamentary Secretary for Science responsible to the House of Commons for answering questions on scientific policy and the duties of the Lord President of the Council.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for East Ham, North (Mr. Prentice) on 31st January.
§ Mr. PeartWhy is there this long delay in appointing a Minister in the House to be responsible for Parliamentary Questions, and to answer also for the Minister for Science? Why the delay? Why should the Prime Minister be so complacent about it?
§ The Prime MinisterThe first thing we had to do was to get a Bill through the House of Commons and the House of Lords to enable us to do that. That we have done, and we are now in a position to act.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. As the House observed yesterday, the hon. Member for Halifax (Mr. Maurice Macmillan) has both intelligence and independence. How he got hem, it is not for me to say.