HC Deb 27 March 1913 vol 50 cc1830-1
50. Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIEN

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has observed that, on the Committee of Selection, on the Chairmen's Panel, on the Unopposed Bills Committee Panel, on Standing Committees A, B, and C, on the Kitchen Committee, on the Select Committee on Marconi Contracts, on the Select Committee on the Putumayo Atrocities, and on the Treasury Committee to inquire into the extension of medical benefit to Ireland, the seventy-four Members of the party of which the hon. and learned Member for Waterford is Chairman receive a representation in all of thirty-eight Members, while the ten Irish Nationalists who do not belong to that party receive no representation at all on any Committee of the House; and whether any steps will be taken to redress the inequality?

Mr. J. W. GULLAND (Lord of the Treasury, on behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Teasury)

If the hon. Member and his Friends desire representation on Standing Committees, I would suggest that they communicate with the Chairman of the Committee of Selection. With regard to Select Committees, as the representation of parties is in proportion to their relative numbers, I am afraid that the various parties in the House would not regard ten Members as being entitled to a separate representation on small Committees consisting of nine to fifteen Members.

Mr. W. O'BRIEN

Does the hon. Gentleman think it a fair representation of parties in this House that a party of seventy-four should have thirty-eight representatives, while ten Members have no representation at all upon any of the Committees of this House? Is that fair?

Mr. GULLAND

I think the House appoints a Committee by itself without reference to the general body of Members on all the Committees; but, with regard to the Standing Committees, where the parties are entitled to one in ten, it would appear that the hon. Member and his Friends are entitled to one Member upon the Standing Committees.

Mr. W. O'BRIEN

Then why have they not got it?

Mr. GULLAND

I suggest that the hon. Member should apply to the Chairman of the Selection Committee.

Mr. W. O'BRIEN

Oh, we are not going begging to anybody.