HL Deb 16 February 1966 vol 272 cc1045-7
LORD TEYNHAM

My Lords, I beg leave to ask Her Majesty's Government the Question of which I have given Private Notice—namely:

Why is it necessary for the Secretary of State for Defence to visit the United States twice within three weeks, presumably to take decisions as to the purchase of the F 111 aircraft without Parliament being advised of the matter?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (THE EARL OF LONGFORD)

My Lords, I am afraid that the Government must decline to answer this as a Private Notice Question because in our view, it does not qualify as a Private Notice Question on the grounds of urgency.

VISCOUNT DILHORNE

My Lords, I must say I am rather surprised by that answer. Are the Government really deciding what should qualify and what should not qualify as a Private Notice Question? Is that not something quite novel? The Government can always refuse, if they wish, to answer any Question. I must say I am astonished to hear it said by the Leader of the House, not in his capacity as Leader of the House but on behalf of the Government, that the Government do not think the Question should qualify as a Private Notice Question.

THE EARL OF LONGFORD

My Lords, I can only say to the noble and learned Viscount, with great deference, that when he has been a Member of this House a little longer he will not be so easily astonished.

VISCOUNT DILHORNE

Of course, the noble Earl owes me an apology for his rebuke yesterday. In fact, he if looks he will see that the points I made then were questions. His complaint was that the questions were perhaps a little long; but he really ought not to regulate the length of speeches. I took great care to find out what the position was; and, unless I was misled, the Government as such have no responsibility for deciding whether or not a Private Notice Question qualifies as such.

LORD SALTOUN

My Lords, may I ask if Her Majesty's Government are going to proceed to change the Rules of the House or if this is done without consulting the House at all?—because, as I understand it, any Peer may ask a Private Notice Question if he thinks the matter sufficiently urgent. The Government can refuse to answer it. One occasionally brings forward a Private Notice Question about, for example, something one may hear on the 8 o'clock News. I will remind the noble Earl that I myself did that when the British Government said they were going to destroy the German war memorials. I asked a Private Notice Question then and got an Answer. Every Peer has the right to ask a Private Notice Question.

THE EARL OF LONGFORD

My Lords, I entirely agree, of course, that every Peer has the right to ask a Private Notice Question; but the Leader of the House, speaking on behalf of the Government, has the right to decide whether or not he will answer it. In this case I have given reasons for not answering it. I could have simply said that I decline to answer the Question; but I thought that what I did say was slightly more courteous.

LORD AIREDALE

My Lords, if this had been a Starred Question, would the Government have answered it? Seeing that we have had only one Starred Question this afternoon, can this Question be regarded as a Starred Question and answered?

LORD TEYNHAM

My Lords, arising out of the negative reply of the noble Earl, would he not agree that Her Majesty's Government are causing widespread unrest and despondency in Her Majesty's Navy owing to rumours and leakages to the Press?

THE EARL OF LONGFORD

My Lords, I am surprised at the particular observation from the noble Lord. I do not feel that it requires an answer.

LORD REA

My Lords, may I ask the Leader of the House whether I should be in order in putting the Question which stands in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Chorley, with whom I have not communicated?

THE EARL OF LONGFORD

My Lords, I am afraid that, for quite different reasons, that also would be inadmissable.