HC Deb 23 March 1965 vol 709 cc316-7
Q1. Mr. Kershaw

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now appoint a Minister of State for Science and Technology in the Commons.

Q2. Mr. Prior

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now appoint a Minister of State for Science and Technology in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

No, Sir.

Mr. Kershaw

Will not the work be extremely heavy? Is the Prime Minister satisfied that his right hon. Friend the Minister will have time to do it in view of his professional commitments outside the House?

The Prime Minister

The hon. Gentleman is becoming a bore on that question. I thought hon. Members opposite were opposed to the establishment of a Ministry of Technology. If they are consistent in that, I find it a little hard to understand why they want to have more Ministers there.

Mr. Prior

But would not the right hon. Gentleman consider appointing someone like Lord Snow whose views on comprehensive education are so much respected by hon. Members on this side of the House? Would he like to say how he reconciles his own views on the grammar schools and about getting rid of them "over his dead body" and Lord Snow"s views on the comprehensive education policy of the Labour Party?

The Prime Minister

I should have expected hon. Members to do better than think up these laborious supplementary questions three or four weeks after tabling the Question. My noble Friend—[HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."]—Some hon. Members opposite would not understand even if I did. My noble Friend is already Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry. If hon. Members would like to see him promoted, I would, of course, consider any representations which they make on that score. The other points do not arise on this Question.