§ Q1. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the additional duties imposed on the Home Secretary in connection with Rhodesia, he will now consider relieving him of his responsibilities for civil defence.
§ Mr. HughesIn view of the fact that the Home Secretary is now to deal with problems affecting Rhodesia, the Common Market, Commonwealth immigration, crime and a large variety of other subjects, is it not essential that somebody should have special responsibility for overlooking the problems of civil defence? Does the Prime Minister realise that we have not had a debate on civil defence in this House for five years?
§ The Prime MinisterThe second part of that supplementary question does not relate to this Question but is a matter of the procedure of the House. With regard to the first part, civil defence has always been part of the Home Secretary's responsibilities, and I am quite sure that he is quite capable of carrying them out.
§ Mr. P. WilliamsOn the matter of the Home Secretary's new duties, will my right hon. Friend not eliminate the possibility of appointing a further Parliamentary Secretary with special responsibility for Central Africa?
§ The Prime MinisterThat will be considered.