HC Deb 08 July 1965 vol 715 cc1809-10
Q4. Mr. Box

asked the Prime Minister whether he will recreate the post of Economic Secretary.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Mr. Box

Is the Prime Minister aware that if he had attended the Committee stage of the Finance Bill, he would have observed how disillusioned, dispirited and dejected members of the Treasury Front Bench had become? Is he further aware that if he contemplates giving us a further dose of the Kaldor cure in the autumn, he should not only re-establish this post, but devise a method of appointing Dr. Kaldor to it so that he could have some accountability to the House and the country for the Government's disastrous financial policy?

The Prime Minister

I am not sure whether the hon. Gentleman is referring to the events of 36 hours ago. On those I would simply say that if the Opposition Whips, when they wake up—[Interruption.]

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

It was the Prime Minister who was asleep.

Mr. Speaker

Order. The House is doing itself no good. Less noise and on we go.

The Prime Minister

If the Opposition Whips want to play cops and robbers in the middle of the night, I do not want to spoil their fun, as long as they do not think that it has any constitutional or political significance. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] As to the second half of the hon. Gentleman's question; if he is trying to make a rather slimy reference to the fact that among the Government's advisers is an individual, or two, of Hungarian origin, let me tell him that right hon. Gentlemen opposite were similarly advised and that we never thought of raising the matter.