§ Q8. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Prime Minister if he will change the name of the Ministry of Technology to Ministry 1125 of Industry and Technology; what commercial and trading, as distinct from technological, functions of the Board of Trade have now been transferred to the Ministry of Technology; how many civil servants have been involved; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. As to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 1st December last to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Aston (Mr. Floud). 77 civil servants have been transferred from the Board of Trade to the Ministry of Technology.
§ Mr. OsbornIs the Prime Minister aware that the Ministry of Technology is taking over commercial functions and becoming a Ministry of Industry and Technology for home-based industries? To what extent is it the decision of the new Ministry of Technology to concern itself with exports, imports and commercial matters? The borderline is not clear.
§ The Prime MinisterAs I made clear in my statement some months ago, the Ministry has taken over sponsorship responsibilities formerly exercised by the Board of Trade in respect of the engineering industry. To that extent, it is an industrial Ministry with sponsorship responsibilities. All those concerned in the industry know where the borderline is drawn. What we have not done is what would be required by the hon. Gentleman's Question—for example, to transfer textiles, pottery, glass and many other industries from the Board of Trade to the Ministry of Technology. I think that this would have been wrong.