This is a most unusual Book of the 21st Century Testament in that it is the only that relates story lines from a television show. It is a very unusual television show and it was extremely well written. The television show was called Yes Minister, and later Yes Prime Minister, and it followed the activities and misadventures of a British politician.

Chapter VIII
Jobs for the Boys.
Sir Humphrey wants Bernard to prevent the Minister from referring to the Solihull-project in a radio broadcast Jim Hacker is going to give that morning. The Solihull-project is a building project in the Midlands financed in a partnership between the government and private sector.

Bradley of Sloane Enterprises - the partner from the private sector - however is on the verge of bankruptcy, threatening to take the whole Solihull-project down as well. This fact is not known by Jim Hacker, and Sir Humphrey is not eager to share this piece of information with the Minister.

When Jim Hacker arrives at his office, Sir Humphrey desperately tries to persuade him not to refer to the Solihull-project on the air. Since Sir Humphrey cannot provide a good reason (and does not tell him about the possible bankruptcy) Jim Hacker assumes that Sir Humphrey just wants to scare him. Jim Hacker rushes of for the studio.

Sir Humphrey in the meanwhile has lunch with Sir Desmond Glazebrook, chairman of a large bank. He hopes the Bank is willing to take over the contract from Bradley of Sloane Enterprises to save the Solihull-project. The Bank is hesitant about this but Sir Desmond is anxiously looking to get appointed to the Industrial Co-partnership Committee, a new government quango. An appointment to this quango is within the gift of Jim Hacker. Sir Humphrey decides that Sir Desmond is the ideal candidate for this job.

In the meanwhile, at Broadcasting House Jim Hacker talks very enthusiastically about the Solihull-project. After the discussion Joe Morgan, a trade unionist, approaches him about a special Birmingham allowance for his members. Jim Hacker rejects this but Joe Morgan says that he has got Jim Hacker by the short and curlies because he referred to the Solihull-project.

Jim Hacker begins to suspect there is something going on with the Solihull-project that he doesn't know. Even his driver George seems to know some things about the project.

Back at the office he asks Sir Humphrey about this but he only gets evasive answers. Then Frank Weisel comes into the office to talk about this quango abolition paper. This paper aims at ending political appointments for quangos. Jim Hacker is also very dissatisfied with the current quango practice and demonstrates this pointing at the latest proposed appointee: Sir Desmond Glazebrook. He announces he will definitely not appoint Sir Desmond Glazebrook.

Then Sir Humphrey shows him the file on the bankruptcy threat of the Solihull-project. Jim Hacker is shocked about this and realizes that he has committed himself to the project by referring to it in the radio interview. He begs Sir Humphrey to advise him how to get out of this mess. Sir Humphrey tells him that the Bank could take over the contract but is hesitant. It's chairman however is looking for a quango appointment, and that chairman is Sir Desmond Glazebrook.

Now Jim Hacker fully agrees to appoint Sir Desmond. Furthermore they decide to ask Joe Morgan as a deputy chairman for this quango, since he also knows about the bankruptcy threat.

Frank Weisel is appalled by this and threatens to go to the press. Now Jim Hacker suggests to set up a super quango to evaluate all government quangos. This super quango requires a lot of foreign travel (California, West Indies, Tahiti) and Frank Weisel eagerly accepts the job.

Sir Humphrey: "Bernard, Ministers should never know more than they need to know. Then they can't tell anyone. Like secret agents, they could be captured and tortured."
Bernard: "You mean by terrorists?"
Sir Humphrey: "By the BBC, Bernard."