§ Q4. Mr. Milneasked the Prime Minister if the public speech of the Lord President of the Council to the North-East Development Council at Newcastle on Friday 14th June, on the needs of the North-East, represented the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.
§ Mr. MilneIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in his speech the Lord President of the Council indicated that he had too many jobs and was overworked, a viewpoint with which many of us in the North-East concur? Will he look more closely into this matter before the many jobs which the Lord President of the Council has become one, as they may, in the near future?
§ The Prime MinisterI am sure that the Lord President is quite capable of carrying out the work now entrusted to him.
§ Mr. R. W. ElliottIs my right hon. Friend aware that the speech of the Lord President of the Council to the North-East Development Council was extremely well received? Is he further aware that the vast majority of those present, together with the Press of the area, saw this speech as a brilliant appreciation of the underlying problems of the area and its long-term prospects?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. I am aware of that and I feel sure that, apart from any question of party considerations, the work that the Lord President of the 642 Council has done in the North-East is very much appreciated by the people there.