HC Deb 19 October 1966 vol 734 cc192-3
10. Mr. Onslow

asked the Minister of Aviation what economies of manpower within the Civil Service will result from the redistribution of his Department's functions.

Mr. Mulley

No forecast can be given until decisions have been reached on the issues raised in the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16th June.

Mr. Onslow

The Minister will agree that that is not a very satisfactory reply. Will he also agree that the only justification for employing any civil servants in his office must be that they help to obtain a worth-while, stable and secure future for the aerospace industry? So how much longer are we to wait for decisions about projects like the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft?

Mr. Mulley

That hardy arises from this Question——

Mr. Onslow

Of course it does.

Mr. Mulley

—but I can tell the hon. Gentleman that the Defence Secretary and I are meeting the French Ministers concerned very shortly, when we hope very much we shall be able to finalise plans for this aircraft.

Mr. Lubbock

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that there are going to be no second thoughts about the redistribution of his Department's functions?

Mr. Mulley

I should have thought that the hon. Gentleman would have appreciated that matters of the machinery of Government are not for the individual Ministers concerned, but for my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. There are already Questions on the Order Paper to my right hon. Friend. I think the hon. Gentleman must await his reply.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us when his own job comes to an end? Was it not to have been several months ago? What is postponing his departure from the Front Bench as Minister of Aviation?

Mr. Mulley

As I said, it is not only questions about the machinery of government, but questions about the retiring of Ministers which must also be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

Mr. Onslow

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

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