The Department of Trade and Industry could be scrapped without any impact on business, the president of the CBI has told The Times.

Martin Broughton, chairman of British Airways, said that the DTI has “not been dealt with as a serious department” by the Government because of the amount of ministerial change thrust upon it. Since 1997 there have been six secretaries of state and several dozen ministers. He said that its abolition would be backed by the CBI if its responsibilities were farmed out to other departments.

In an interview with The Times, Mr Broughton also criticises ministers for not being up to the job and urges Gordon Brown to call a snap general election if he becomes Labour leader so business has a clear idea of policy. The BA chairman attacks the Government’s practice of choosing secretaries of state and ministers exclusively from the ranks of Labour MPs rather than selecting some from outside politics.

Mr Broughton’s remarks on the DTI come as speculation mounts that Mr Brown may scrap or radically cut back the department if he becomes Prime Minister. The CBI president said: “I think it is acceptable to the CBI if they do it properly.” Mr Broughton believes that energy could be put into the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as that would eliminate inter-departmental rivalry.

He accused many ministers of lacking qualifications for their jobs. He said the current selection process limited choice to “300 people who have been voted in on parochial issues and had no industrial experience whatsover”.

He said: “Departments are used as stepping stones, training grounds for people who are not up to the job.” Under the present Government, the DTI has been led by a former metallurgist; spin doctor; polytechnic lecturer; management consultant; union leader; and a lawyer.

The BA chairman wants a snap election after Mr Brown’s expected election as Labour Party leader. He said: “From a business viewpoint, it would be a good thing.” Without one, Mr Broughton said: “We have got the potential of two changes within a couple of years and I don’t think that is a good thing for business.”

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