§ Q2. Mr. Martenasked the Prime Minister if he will alter the long established practice of not specifying in detail the duties carried out by the Paymaster-General.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. MartenNevertheless, could the Prime Minister be a little more explicit 1527 about one aspect of the right hon. Lady's duties, namely, her concern with the problems of youth? What particular aspect of youth—moral, political, social—is she to be concerned with, and how old is youth before it is to get her attention?
§ The Prime MinisterShe is concerned with all problems of youth, of all relevant ages. But my right hon. Friend will not be responsible for the detailed operation of the Youth Service, which is under my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.
§ Mr. HefferDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that the position of the previous Paymaster-General was somewhat of a mystery to the House and country? Will he put us out of our misery on the matter and explain in some detail what the Paymaster-General really does?
§ The Prime MinisterThe previous Paymaster-General was, as Paymaster- General, Leader of the House of Lords—
§ Mr. HefferThe one before.
§ The Prime MinisterI never thought that there was any mystery about that. To reduce my hon. Friend's misery, I suggest that he should now read the very detailed Answer I gave on Thursday, 24th October, about the duties of the present Paymaster-General.