HC Deb 05 July 1966 vol 731 cc227-8
10. Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Minister of Technology if he will now publish a revised organisation chart for his Department incorporating all the changes made since 9th March, 1966; what changes and additions have been made since this date; what further changes and additions are contemplated in the immediate future; and how many civil servants and personnel are involved.

Mr. Benn

The basic organisation remains the same as stated on 10th May, 1966. The detailed organizational changes will follow the implementation of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's statement on 16th June, 1966.

Mr. Osborn

I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on his appointment and wish him well. Can he state whether these proposed changes, which were undoubtedly announced for internal political reasons and which are now obviously not necessary, are themselves technically and administratively justified?

Mr. Benn

The hon. Gentleman misunderstands the nature of the change and the reason for it, which was to bring together different aspects of the engineering industry, of which he has great knowledge. We shall be looking at this over the next few months before the change takes place and I will bear in mind the points that he or other hon. Gentlemen like to put.

Sir G. Nabarro

Will the right hon. Gentleman give special attention in this change to the position of the Royal Radar Establishment at Malvern and make certain that the Prime Minister's earlier undertaking not to fragment or erode or vitiate that important scientific centre will be the continuing policy of his Department?

Mr. Benn

Discussions are going on, and if the hon. Gentleman would like to put down a specific Question about this subject, I would be glad to try and answer. Discussions are going on with the Ministry of Defence about the extent to which it will need to take over the responsibilities of the Ministry of Aviation.

Mr. David Price

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that, throughout, the House will be concerned to ensure that, with the added responsibility of his Department for the whole of engineering, arrangements are made for the necessary support for the sale overseas of British engineering products? We should like to hear more about the arrangements, particularly for the transfers from the Board of Trade, and that the support that these industries have enjoyed from the Board of Trade will not be jeopardised by going to two Departments rather than one.

Mr. Benn

I am aware of the importance of that point and I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for making it.