§ Q5. Sir F. Bennettasked the Prime Minister what are the duties of the Minister of State for Economic Affairs.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 24th June to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton).
§ Sir F. BennettOn recalling that Answer on this occasion, would the Prime Minister like to say which Minister in this Department will be responsible for carrying out the compulsory restriction 1830 in wage rises which his right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State recently threatened?
§ The Prime MinisterThe reply which I gave on the previous occasion was that the duty of the Minister of State is to assist my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State. How work is divided up in the Department will be a matter for my right hon. Friend. If the hon. Gentleman wants to put down Questions about policy perhaps he will put down Questions about policy.
§ Mr. DoughtyWould the Prime Minister explain to his right hon. Friend that his duties include giving proper Answers to Members in the House and not trying to be too smart with his backchat?
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friend has been giving proper Answers to Questions, but he has been facing the same difficulty as I have, that an extremely high proportion of Questions from hon. Members opposite neither seek information nor raise questions of policy. They are just simply useless muck-raking questions.