§ Q3. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Prime Minister what plans he has for changes in the number, scope, and organisation of Government Departments; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterI keep this matter under review and will inform the House when I have any changes to propose.
§ Mr. RobertsDoes not the Prime Minister agree that there are too many Government Departments? Is there not a need to regroup into a smaller number of major Departments, such as welfare, production and distribution, each with a senior Minister in the Cabinet?
§ The Prime MinisterThese matters have been debated as long as Governments have existed. I will, of course, bear my hon. Friend's proposals in mind. I cannot see, however, that the best interests of British industry and trade would be served if the Board of Trade were divided into two Departments, one for production and the other for distribution.
§ Mr. CostainHas the Prime Minister's attention been drawn to the answer to a Question yesterday by the Minister of Public Building and Works stating that 6 million additional feet of office accommodation have been taken by Government Departments since 1964? Is that not one of the reasons why the housing programme has fallen behind?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. In the first place, the housing programme is not behind. I have noticed that, with the record figure of housing starts and the number of houses under construction, far fewer Questions have been put to me about housing. The office space is required for policies approved by the House, including the improvements in our social security provisions and including the investment grants scheme, for example, needed to bring work to the development areas.