Industry and Employment (Ministerial Appointment)

Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Health – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16 July 1968.

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Photo of Mr Gordon Campbell Mr Gordon Campbell , Moray and Nairnshire 12:00, 16 July 1968

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a Minister for Industry and Employment to take over the relevant responsibilities of, and replace the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Minister of Technology and the two Ministers of State at the Board of Trade concerned with aviation and shipping.

Photo of Mr Gordon Campbell Mr Gordon Campbell , Moray and Nairnshire

Why not, as this would hardly fail to be an improvement on the present over-abundance of Ministers?

Photo of Mr Harold Wilson Mr Harold Wilson , Huyton

The hon. Gentleman is expressing an opinion; we on this side do not agree with him.

Photo of Mr Eric Moonman Mr Eric Moonman , Billericay

While there may be some disagreement about the nature of the previous question, would my right hon. Friend not consider some inquiry into the structure of Government, certainly before implementing the findings of the Fulton Committee?

Photo of Mr Harold Wilson Mr Harold Wilson , Huyton

As I have answered my hon. Friend before, the question of the machinery of Government is under continuous review. There have been some important announcements this year involving the merger of four Departments into two. The next step forward can most profitably take place after we have received the Report of the Royal Commission on Local Government, which I hope will help to point the way to the solution of some of the problems which I think the whole House wants to solve in regionalism. Some of the recommendations of Fulton and of Seebohm and the Maude Commission, both of which are to be published, are highly relevant to the next step in the machinery of government.