HC Deb 19 February 1970 vol 796 cc589-90
Q3. Mr. John Fraser

asked the Prime Minister if he will transfer from the Home Office to the Department of Health and Social Security the responsibility for race relations matters.

The Prime Minister

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a question by him on 5th February.—[Vol. 795, c. 620.]

Mr. Fraser

In view of the incredible suggestions of the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell), that over half a million people, including the Southern Irish, could be deported voluntarily with a bribe of £2,000 per head, can my right hon. Friend say whether he has had representations to transfer responsibility jointly to the Treasury and the Ministry of Transport?

The Prime Minister

Naturally, I will consider this novel suggestion. I think that I have the purport of my hon. Friend's question. It would not be the Ministry of Transport. Overseas travel is the responsibility of the shipping and aviation departments of the Board of Trade, which are also responsible for cross-channel traffic across the Irish Sea.

Dr. Winstanley

Is the Prime Minister aware that many hon. Members feel that the Department administering the National Health Service and spending an immense amount of public money thereon should be represented in this Chamber by a senior Minister of Cabinet rank, that there is considerable anxiety about the mixture of Health with another Department, and that we would greatly regret the heaping of a still further Department on to Health?

The Prime Minister

The hon. Gentleman must have perceived that the head of the combined Department of Health and Social Security is my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, who has been a member—

Dame Irene Ward

He is no use.

The Prime Minister

The hon. Lady tempts me to remind the House who were the last two Tory Ministers of Health—the present Chairman of the Tory Party, whom we do not see today, and the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell). I think that the hon. Member for Cheadle (Dr. Winstanley) will be aware that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services is a very senior member of the Cabinet.