§ 31 and 32. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Prime Minister (1) of how many persons the Royal Commission on the recommendation of honours will consist;
(2) when he proposes to consult the various parties in the House in respect of the personnel of the Royal Commission on the recommendation of honours?
37. Mr. LANE-FOXasked the Prime Minister what steps, if any, have been taken to punish or reprimand the official 2265 responsible for the blunder which caused the offer of a peerage to Sir J. B. Robinson?
38. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister if he will afford facilities for the Debate on the bestowal of honours to be resumed; whether the composition of the promised Royal Commission has yet been decided upon; and when it will be appointed?
§ The PRIME MINISTERImmediate steps are being taken with a view to the appointment of the Royal Commission, but I am not yet in a position to make any definite statement as to its composition. The consultations in regard to the personnel will take place with the least possible delay. In reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Barks-ton Ash (Mr. Lane-Fox), the circumstances which led to this offer were fully explained in another place, and I can add nothing further. It is not the intention of the Government to give facilities for the Debate to be resumed.
Mr. LANE-FOXWhy should the responsibility be put solely on the Prime Minister? Would it not be far wiser to throw it on the proper person?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI accept the responsibility. It must be mine. I am responsible to the Houses of Parliament whenever any mistake of this kind is made.
§ Sir D. MACLEANWould it not be better, before arriving at a settlement of the personnel of this Commission and other questions, that Members of the House of Lords, as well as Members of the House of Commons, should meet the right hon. Gentleman together? If he could give us something rather more adequate than a notice across the Floor of the House, no doubt a meeting could be arranged at a very early date.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should have done so, but I only arrived here this morning. I am quite prepared to meet them at any time, and I could give any hour to-morrow afternoon, or at any rate I could do it on Monday after Question Time in my room in the House.
§ Sir D. MACLEANWe will arrange it.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONMay I take it the right hon. Gentleman has not 2266 already selected the Members beforehand?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat would have been a breach of faith. I promised I would confer with those more or less in charge of this matter in both Houses before any selection was made. That is exactly what I want to see them upon. I propose to submit certain names to them for discussion.
Mr. ROSEIs it proposed to put the hon. Member for Wood Green (Mr. G. Locker-Lampson) on the Commission?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think I had bettor say nothing about names.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI shall put the whole proposal before the meeting.