§ Q8. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the changed situation resulting from the recent negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, he will now abolish the Department of Economic Affairs.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI have been asked to reply.
I do not accept the assumption contained in the first half of the right hon. Gentleman's Question. The second part does not therefore arise.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWould not the acting Prime Minister consult the Chancellor of the Exchequer about this? Surely the D.E.A. was created as an inflationary counterpoise to the Treasury's deflationary policies? Now that the latter is being reinforced by the I.M.F., is not the former otiose?
§ Mr. JenkinsI have consulted the Chancellor of the Exchequer about this matter, and I have no desire in any way to vary the statement which I made earlier. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that relations between the D.E.A. and the Treasury are extremely harmonious at present.
§ Mr. MacDermotWhilst I, too, do not accept the assumption in the original Question, would my right hon. Friend ask the Prime Minister to consider the matter carefully from another point of view, namely, the reforms in the machinery of central Government likely to be needed following the reforms projected in our system of local government? For this reason, would he ask my right hon. Friend to consider whether it would not be right to set up an inquiry, and start one now, on the whole machinery of government, taking account of the experience gained in the past few years, including that of the D.E.A.?
§ Mr. JenkinsAs I have indicated, the machinery of Government is kept under constant review. I am not sure that an inquiry would be the best method of doing this, but no doubt my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will consider carefully the suggestion of my hon. and learned Friend, who has had long experience of these Departments.