HC Deb 08 March 1955 vol 538 cc147-9
45. Mr. Jay

asked the Prime Minister the co-ordinating functions of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Harry Crookshank)

I have been asked to reply.

No specific field of co-ordination is now assigned to my noble Friend.

Mr. Jay

Is it part of the functions of the Chancellor of the Duchy to consult the Chancellor of the Exchequer before putting up expensive and misleading posters in the country about prosperity and Conservative freedom and so forth? [HON MEMBERS: "Answer."] Is it?

Mr. H. Morrison

It is well known that the direct functions of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster have some importance but that they are limited, and clearly are not those of a full-time post. The right hon. Gentleman has said that the Chancellor of the Duchy has no co-ordinating function. Then what, may I ask, is he doing for his salary? Are we to understand that his salary is being paid to him for doing nothing other than the work of Chairman of the Conservative Party organisation? If that is so, is that a proper use of public funds?

Mr. Crookshank

I think that the right hon. Gentleman would be well advised to read the remarks of the Leader of the Opposition in the debate on 6th May, 1952, when he dealt with the question of disclosing to Parliament the work which senior Ministers do. I dare say that the functions undertaken by my noble Friend are somewhat similar—for all I know—to those undertaken by the right hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Dalton) when he held the same position, and when no replies were given to similar Questions which were then addressed.

Mr. Dalton

But does the right hon. Gentleman recall that I was not at that time performing, nor was it ever suggested that I was, any function on behalf of the party machine? That appears to be all that the present occupant is now doing—for the Tory Party machine.

Mr. Crookshank

I must suggest that, perhaps, the right hon. Gentleman also would like to read the Report of the debate to which I have referred his right hon. Friend.

Mr. Jay

Why is the Lord Privy Seal so suspiciously coy on this matter? Can he confirm or deny that the Chancellor of the Duchy is responsible for those misleading posters?

Mr. Crookshank

I was only answering the Question on the Paper dealing with the official duties of my noble Friend.

Mr. H. Morrison

The right hon. Gentleman has said, in effect, that the Chancellor of the Duchy is doing nothing—he has no co-ordinating functions. It is well known that the duties of the post of the Chancellor of the Duchy do not take up a great deal of time. Is not the answer that the Chancellor of the Duchy is utterly unemployed, except for his work for the party machine? I want to know, with my right hon. Friend, how long it has been that the State, the taxpayer, the citizen, has had to pay out of public funds for the maintenance of the Conservative Party organisation.

Mr. Crookshank

The right hon. Gentleman is trying to play a very pretty game of party politics, but apparently he did not hear the original reply, which was to the effect that no specific field of co-ordination is now assigned to my noble Friend. That is the situation.

Mr. Jay

On a point of order. Owing to the frivolous and malicious refusal—

Hon. Members

Oh.

Mr. Speaker

Order.I did not hear what the right hon. Gentleman said.

Mr. Jay

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter at the earliest opportunity.