§ 3. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what reduction in the scope, the staff, and the cost of his Department he has made this year; and whether he will deal with these matters in his forthcoming National Plan.
§ Mr. ShoreThe staff of my Department is now 43 less than it was at the beginning of the year, and its cost about £100,000 less. As regards the second part of the Question the answer is no.
§ Sir G. NabarroDo these timorous, faltering steps in the right direction connote that the Minister has accepted my recommendation for the extermination of his Department? In simple terms, is the Minister taking my advice to cut his own throat at an early date?
§ Mr. ShoreAs I observed before, if the Department of Economic Affairs did not exist I am sure that it would very quickly have to be invented. That does not, I am afraid, signify at all that I have taken the hon. Member's advice. What it does signify is the transfer earlier this year of certain responsibility in the prices and incomes field to the D.E.P.