§ Q3. Mr. Onslowasked the Prime Minister what machinery he has now established in his administration for coordinating Ministerial speeches in the country.
§ The Prime MinisterI dealt with this on Tuesday, Sir, in reply to an almost identical Question from the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. Gordon Campbell).—[Vol. 774. c. 298.]
§ Mr. OnslowIs the Prime Minister aware that he must be under a misapprehension? Would it not avoid future uncertainty about the duties of the Paymaster-General, as the Cabinet's kennel-maid, if the Prime Minister could arrange for the fine print in her contract to be leaked to the House?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that a lot of confusion would be avoided if the hon. Gentleman read the Answers given on 24th October and 12th November.
§ Mr. OnslowI have read them.
§ Mr. William PriceWould my right hon. Friend consider extending this advisory service to include Questions tabled by right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite? Is he aware that some of us are sick of the same hoary old Questions week after week from half-wits, of whom the hon. Gentleman is a classic example?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. Personally, I am not sick of those Questions, despite their repetitious character. What is serious is that hon. Gentlemen opposite who know that a Question has been answered on a number of occasions before are wasting the time of the House and of hon. Members who may have more serious Questions to ask.
§ Mr. HeathIs the Prime Minister aware that, as he has given the Paymaster-General, in addition to the work of coordinating Ministerial speeches, the responsibility for answering for him as Minister for the Civil Service, we have had the experience in which both sides of the House are dissatisfied because the right hon. Lady finds herself unable to answer for herself? Can he look at this seriously and see whether the position can be adjusted?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is a fair question, and, when a possible change in the Questions order allows my right hon. Friend to answer for herself, the right hon. Gentleman will find that she will be more than capable of doing it. I agree that yesterday's experience did not work out very well. It was as a result of agreement between the usual channels as to her answering of Questions, and I am sure that the right way would be for the usual channels to get together and consider whether the new Questions order after Christmas should not provide different arrangements so that she can answer Civil Service Questions without derogating from her ability to answer others.