§ Mr. Canavanasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the change of status by the Ministry of Overseas Development.
§ The Prime MinisterFollowing the ministerial changes announced last week a Transfer of Functions Order under Section 1 of the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975 will be made under which the functions at present vested in the Minis-540W ter of Overseas Development will be exercisable either by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs or by the Minister of Overseas Development. I have asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to assume overall responsibility for these functions and, as already announced, I have appointed my right hon. Friend the Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Prentice), who is a member of the Cabinet, as a Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with responsibility for Overseas Development. Under these arrangements the separate Ministry of Overseas Development will remain in being, and its permanent staff will remain members of the Home Civil Service.