§ Q1. Mr. David Howellasked the Prime Minister whether he will now take steps to merge the management side of the Treasury and the Cabinet Office to create a Prime Minister's Department to assist him in discharging his central coordinating responsibilities.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)No, Sir. It would, I think, be a mistake to consider suggestions of this kind until we have the Report of Lord Fulton's Committee on the Civil Service.
§ Mr. HowellCan the Prime Minister say at what date the Fulton Committee's Report will be published? Would it not 206 be a great improvement if the good work of the management services side of the Treasury was transferred to the Prime Minister's Department, so that the drive for efficiency in Government should have the full backing of the Prime Minister's authority, such as it is?
§ The Prime MinisterAs the hon. Gentleman knows, the permanent head of the Civil Service reports jointly to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor and myself. On the first part of his Question, I understand that the Committee is making very good progress and I certainly hope that we would have the Report before the House adjourns for the Summer Recess. I would, of course, expect to make a statement to the House at that time.
§ Mr. LubbockIs this not a question on which the advice of British management consultants might be taken, with very great benefit to the Government?
§ The Prime MinisterI am not in close touch with Lord Fulton, for obvious reasons, but we shall see when we have the Report whether there has been any use of British management consultants.