HC Deb 01 December 1966 vol 737 c600
14. Mr. St. John-Stevas

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will take steps to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of his Department at the present time.

Mr. M. Stewart

I am always striving to maintain the efficiency of my Department.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

Since in the words of a distinguished former member of the Minister's Department the D.E.A. has been "defeated, demoralised and decapitated", has not the time come to wind up this expensive charade and merge it back into the Treasury, from which it should never have been separated?

Mr. Stewart

No, Sir. I think it was an article in Crossbow—[HON. MEMBERS: "The Spectator."] Oh, but the Spectator article said that the prospects of the D.E.A. were now brighter than at any time since 1964.

Mr. Shinwell

Could my right hon. Friend do something to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the two opposite points of view of the Tory Opposition?

Mr. M. Stewart

I am glad to say that that lies outside the field of my responsibility.