§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister what percentage of members of the House are now in ministerial office or employed as parliamentary private secretaries; and what was the figure in 1978.
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§ The Prime MinisterNineteen per cent. of Members of this House are parliamentary private secretaries or hold ministerial office, which is broadly similar to 1978. The information is a matter of public record.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list the number of Ministers in the Government by rank currently and in 1978; and if he will explain the reasons for the differences;
(2) how many Ministers there are currently in the Cabinet; how many there were in 1978; and what are the reasons for the difference.
§ The Prime MinisterThe information requested is a matter of public record. The reasons for any differences will depend on the reasons for allocations of ministerial portfolios in 1978 by the then Prime Minister, now Lord Callaghan of Cardiff.