§ Q5. Mr. Gardnerasked the Prime Minister what further changes he plans to make in the Departments responsible for external affairs.
§ The Prime MinisterI have no further proposals to make at present.
§ Mr. GardnerWill the Prime Minister accept that one of the most creditable things which this Government have done has been to set up the Ministry of Overseas Development and to separate decisions about aid from decisions about foreign policy? Will he give an assurance that this separation will continue?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have certainly no plans for making changes in the Ministry of Overseas Development. I think that now we have made this major act of amalgamating the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Relations Office we should give it time to settle down. I 1075 am sure, even in these early days, that this merger was right, and that it will settle down and prove a success.
§ Sir D. RentonIn making these new arrangements will the Prime Minister ensure that they are such as to enable the Commonwealth countries to realise that they have a special claim upon our friendship and sympathy and will receive from the Government special attention?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, in the arrangements provision is being made for that to continue, and, of course, both my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and I will at all times be ready to have discussions with them. I have two or three, for example, myself, today and tomorrow. Certainly they have that claim on us, and we have a corresponding claim on them.