HC Deb 04 May 1965 vol 711 cc1107-8
Q4. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Prime Minister how many requests he has had in the last four months from members of the public and public bodies to establish new Ministries or to appoint new Ministers; and what replies he has given them.

The Prime Minister

None, Sir.

Mr. Hamilton

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the form in which I wanted to put down this Question was not accepted by the Table Office, and that that is why it is in the form in which is appears at the moment? Assuming that hon. and right hon. Members opposite are members of the public, will my right hon. Friend indicate how many requests he has had from them to set up new Ministries or new Departments?

The Prime Minister

I am sorry about the Table Office. I have had a number of suggestions at Question Time. Honestly, I did not think it worth while to spend my time, or the time of officials, counting up the number of proposals, but at various times hon. Members opposite have shown a great desire to expand the number of Ministries in the Government, and we have just had to resist them.

Sir Knox Cunningham

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many suggestions he has had for the suppression of existing ones?

The Prime Minister

The answer is "None". So far as the public, and public bodies referred to in the Question, are concerned—I do not think even the hon. Member considers himself yet to be a public body—I am not aware of any proposals of this kind. But I have had from some hon. Members opposite a suggestion that we should expand the number of Ministries, while others have suggested getting rid of the most important Ministries.

Sir G. Nicholson

On the question of the appointment of new Ministers, how many broad hints has the right hon. Gentleman had from the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton)?

The Prime Minister

I am not sure that I understood that supplementary question. Did the hon. Member refer to "broad hints"? I am wondering how many people are going to follow the broad hint that he has given in the Daily Telegraph this week.