45. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that there have been issued more than 1,700 Statutory Orders, which have the force of law, during the first 11 months of peace; if he will give an assurance that steps will be taken to diminish the number of Statutory Orders issued during the period to the end of 1946; and if he will also take steps to reduce the number of Departments and officials at present numbering 215 some 18 and over 300, respectively, who have the power vested in them to make these Orders.
The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlec)The reply to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." In reply to the second part of the Question, the only assurance I can give the hon. Member is that all necessary measures for the rapid reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country will continue to be taken. As regards the third part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedford (Mr, Lennox Boyd) on Tuesday last.
Mr. De la BèreDoes the Prime Minister realise that this should not be a party question, but a question of upholding the prestige and authority of the House of Commons? Further, is he not aware that if the present system is maintained, and worse still, is developed, the authority of the House of Commons must inevitably be undermined?
§ The Prime MinisterI am sure that, with the hon. Member's assistance, we shall maintain the dignity of the House of Commons.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeWith regard to the last part of the Question, can the Prime Minister tell us what precisely is the difficulty in having Ministers in charge of Departments sign these Statutory Rules and Orders, if necessary over an initial signature by one of their subordinates? Why is it necessary for the subordinate chiefs in the Department to sign, and not the Minister?
§ The Prime MinisterThe noble Lord might have raised this matter when a Question was asked on Tuesday last, on which the whole matter was very fully ventilated.
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonWill the Prime Minister say whether his reply to the second part of the Question is equivalent to an affirmative or a negative?
§ The Prime MinisterI shall have to look at it.
Mr. De la BèreIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall raise on the Adjournment this whole question, which is of vital and absolute importance.