asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Report of the Plowden Committee.

I am not yet ready to make a statement on the Report of the Plowden Committee. As I told the House on the 16th of January, I will make one as soon as possible.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that the rationalisation and modernisation of our machinery for external relations is now well overdue? Will he undertake to make a statement at least before Easter? Is it his intention to publish the Plowden Committee's Report, or not?

Yes. I set up the Committee and I understand the urgency of the matter. I shall report to the House as soon as I can and the Report will be published.