§ Mr. AGAR - ROBARTESasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that there are only four Liberals on the Advisory Committee of thirteen members recently appointed in Devonshire; whether his attention has been called to the fact that out of twelve magistrates appointed last week only two are Liberals; and if he proposes to take any steps with reference to the Advisory Committee's maiden effort?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe information given to the Lord Chancellor is, I am informed, not in accordance with the suggestions contained in the question, but the names are available, so that my hon. Friend can form his own opinion. I have promised to give facilities for a discussion of the Report of the Commission, including their recommendation of the establishment of Advisory Committees.
Mr. KINGMay I ask why has the Lord Chancellor himself disregarded the recommendation of the Royal Commission, which was to the effect that Advisory Committees should at the most consist of five members, and will the Prime Minister press upon the Lord Chancellor the advisability of observing the letter of the recommendations in this Report so that Advisory Committees themselves may be encouraged to adhere to the spirit of them?
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked whether, in order to remove the appointment of justices of the peace from the political arena, it could be arranged that any recommendation by a Member of or candidate for Parliament would act as a disqualification; and whether he will recommend that no Member of Parliament be allowed to act on or help to select the Advisory Committee?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI doubt whether a sufficient case can be made out for such a severe measure of exclusion as the Noble Lord suggests.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEMay I ask if it is not the case that the appointments are alleged to be almost 261 always purely political, owing to a great deal of pressure from Members of Parliament? Would it not simplify things, and would it not be fairer when appointments are made if Members of Parliament were not permitted to have anything at all to do with it?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe suggestion, of course, is worthy of consideration.
§ Lord BALCARRESIs the First Lord of the Treasury aware that in this connection the Home Secretary has thought it advisable in the general interest publicly to deprecate the intervention of Members of Parliament in the making of appointments?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI entirely agree with my right hon. Friend, but that is quite a different point from whether Members of Parliament should be excluded as such from sitting on an Advisory Committee.