 Dodds had the distinction of submitting the first question in the new Parliament; he asked the Prime Minister to call a conference to find ways of outlawing the hydrogen bomb and atomic weapons.Dodds was appointed a member of the Central Advisory Committee to the Minister of Pensions, and in May 1951 was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Alfred Robens, the Minister of Labour.As the Government had a small majority, MPs were pressed to attend at all times; on 19 March 1951 Dodds attracted some attention when he came to Parliament with pyjamas, a pillow and a car rug, allowing him to catch some sleep during all-night sittings.