§ Q4. Mr. G. Campbellasked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to reshape the Cabinet Office and reduce the number of Ministries and governmental bodies.
§ The Prime MinisterThese matters are kept under continuous review, but I have no statement to make today.
§ Mr. CampbellBesides achieving some necessary streamlining, would not this proposal also help the Prime Minister by sparing him the tedium of having to replace senior Ministers as they resign on deciding that they no longer wish to serve?
§ The Prime MinisterSuch matters are not unprecedented. I remember a whole Treasury team resigning when the Conservative Government were in power— all three Ministers. I remember the then Prime Minister sacking half his Cabinet —the wrong half, as it turned out. So far as the machinery of Government is concerned, the hon. Gentleman will know that the already announced decisions involve the merger of four Departments into two. This is in addition to other changes which have been made.
§ Mr. Hector HughesIs it not already the case that hon. Members having financial interests in any matter under discussion declare their interest?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir, I think that that is the practice of the House. It is more relevant, I think, to a later Question.
§ Mr. MaudlingCan the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that present methods of Cabinet Government command the support of all his colleagues?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.
§ Mr. George BrownWithout wishing to add to the Prime Minister's difficulties, may I ask whether he will make it clear that the team which resigned then was 1689 of quite a different calibre from the one which has resigned now?
§ The Prime MinisterI did not say that they resigned; I said that they were sacked.
§ Mr. John HyndCan my right hon. Friend give the House an estimate of the number of new Ministries which the party opposite has proposed over the last 12 months?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir, I do not follow all their successive policy statements. Since this Government were formed, however, two Departments have been abolished and three new ones created—[An HON. MEMBER: "Three?"] They are the Welsh Office—I do not know whether it is Conservative policy to abolish the Welsh Office—the Ministry of Technology and the D.E.A. Aviation has gone, quite unlamented, and the Colonial Office has gone. As a result of further action to be taken this year, the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office will be merged, as, of course, will the Ministries of Health and Social Security.
§ Mr. Gwynfor EvansMay I urge upon the right hon. Gentleman that a way of reducing the number of Ministries which would greatly benefit the people of Wales and Scotland would be to establish Welsh and Scottish government?
§ The Prime MinisterThat would certainly be of no benefit to the people of Wales or Scotland.