HC Deb 02 April 1974 vol 871 cc1087-8
Q3. Mr. Skinner

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has for the future of the Central Policy Review Staff.

The Prime Minister

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 28th March to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne.)— [Vol. 871, c. 622.]

Mr. Skinner

I read that answer and I was not terribly pleased with it. Is my right hon. Friend aware that the role of the Central Policy Review Staff in a Labour Government must be seriously limited? Is he further aware that we are on the Government benches and not on the Opposition side because our "Think Tank" was located at Transport House and was fed by conference decisions? As a good half back, carrying the conscience of the Labour Party, will my right hon. Friend make sure that he keeps striking forward into the opponents' penalty area and not make any back passes?

The Prime Minister

These metaphores are a little difficult to follow, and I shall give them thought in due course. When my hon. Friend studies the answer he has received today, he may like it better than the answer he read earlier. I had anxieties when the CPRS was set up in that I felt it might interfere with the responsibility of individual Departments and Ministers. I am satisfied that it has not developed in that way. I think that it is an extremely useful new initiative in government, and I hope that my hon. Friend will come round to that view in the fullness of time.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Will the Prime Minister now answer the question that he could not answer last week, namely, what is the precise division of responsibilities between the "Think Tank" on the one hand and Dr. Donoughue and his "Mafia" on the other?

The Prime Minister

We had that joke last week. The "Think Tank" is doing the normal "think-tankery" work which it was set up to do under the previous Government, and I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree that it was valuable work. That work is continuing. There is a later Question about the work of Dr. Donoughue. The work of his unit is more to do with day-to-day questions of a policy character.

Mr. William Hamilton

Is the CPRS still reviewing the question of Concorde, or has that issue been taken out of its hands?

The Prime Minister

The CPRS is continuing to review all the important questions before the Government. Matters are not taken out of its hands, but at certain points decisions have to be taken. My right hon. Friend explained the position regarding Concorde yesterday.