§ Q4. Mr. Moonmanasked the Prime Minister if he will establish an independent inquiry into the way industrial affairs 1229 are at present dealt with by Government Departments.
§ The Prime MinisterI would be happy to consider any suggestions my hon. Friend may care to make but would need rather more information than is contained in his Question. Perhaps he would care to let me have details of what he has in mind.
§ Mr. MoonmanWould my right hon. Friend take note of the fact that to any dispassionate observer the present distribution of portfolios on industrial matters appears to be somewhat illogical and somewhat zany? In the absence of a Select Committee, I will certainly provide some further information in the hope that he will look at it again.
§ The Prime MinisterI should be grateful to my hon. Friend if he provides any particular examples. He will realise the division of function between the Ministry of Technology with not only its technological work, but also the engineering and associated industries, on the one hand, and the position of the Board of Trade with trade, commerce and certain principal consumer industries, on the other.