§ 46. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister if he will widen the terms of reference of the proposed Select Committee on Procedure so that it will be able to consider the question of arranging for the Scottish Grand Committee to sit in Scotland.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The proposal that the Scottish Standing Committee should be enabled to meet in Scotland was examined by the Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs. It reported that the practical disadvantages in the way of adopting it outweighed the arguments in favour of it.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Prime Minister aware that no Scottish Member of Parliament sat on the Royal Commission? If Scottish Members had sat on it there would have been different recommendations.
§ The Prime MinisterIt would be possible for the Scottish Grand Committee to sit in Scotland during the Recess if that were thought to be at all helpful.
§ Mr. RankinIn view of the Prime Minister's refusal to accept the suggestion of my hon. Friend, will he consider establishing a Scottish Parliament for Scottish affairs?
§ 50. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Prime Minister if he will include in the terms of reference of the proposed Select Committee on Procedure in Public Business provision for a review of the allocation of time for Parliamentary Questions between the various Departments, with a particular view to increasing the number of occasions on which the Secretary of State for Scotland is available for questioning.
§ The Prime MinisterI believe that the present arrangement whereby the order of Questions to Ministers is reviewed in discussions through the usual channels and in consultation with the Authorities of the House is the most satisfactory one. This arrangement provides flexibility to meet new circumstances as they arise. Any additional opportunities for Questions to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland would have to be at the expense of Questions to some other Minister, and I have no reason to think that this would command the general support of the House.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs not the Prime Minister aware that the Secretary of State for Scotland recently took on responsibility for Scottish laws and electricity and that no extra time is given to Scottish Members to ask Questions on these subjects which formerly they were able to address to United Kingdom Ministers? Will he not take up that matter through the usual channels?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is far better to discuss these matters through the usual channels. I do not think the point to consider about Questions is whether all topics are exhausted under one particular heading, or whether Question Time should produce, as I think it should, a wide variety of questions on matters of national interest.
§ Mr. BennWould not the Prime Minister look at this matter again? Would he not agree that when the Select Committee on Procedure is to be set up it should not be unduly restricted in its terms of reference, so that hon. Members who have 261 points they think to be important may be allowed to submit them for the consideration of the Committee and the House?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is a matter of balancing advantage, and, as at present advised, I do not think that the House as a whole would welcome a further allocation of time in this way.
§ 51. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister whether he will move to appoint a separate all-Scottish committee of investigation to inquire into the functions and composition of the Scottish Grand Committee.
§ 52. Mr. Rossasked the Prime Minister the nature of the representations made, and by whom, regarding the working of the Scottish Grand Committee which has caused him to include it in the terms of reference of the Select Committee on Procedure which it is proposed to set up.
§ The Prime MinisterIt would hardly be appropriate to refer to a separate Scottish committee a matter which must clearly be considered in the context of the general arrangements for carrying on the business of the House.
The various representations made by hon. Members have related in the main to the possibility of transacting Scottish business in Committee with a less continuous demand on the time of the whole body of Scottish Members and to enable them to take their part in the work of other Standing Committees dealing with United Kingdom Bills affecting Scotland.
§ Mr. HamiltonCan the right hon. Gentleman say, in the first place, whether representations were made on this question by hon. Members on this side of the House, or whether they were made solely by his hon. Friends? Would he say further whether the representations made by his hon. Friends were to the effect that the Scottish Grand Committee should be so constituted as to allow his hon. Friends to contract out of their responsibilities to the Scottish electorate and look after their private interests outside the House?
§ The Prime MinisterThere were a number of representations, as the hon. Member will recall. In any event, there will be opportunities to debate this when the Motion for the setting up of the Select Committee on Procedure is put forward.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that my hon. Friends and those of his hon. Friends who represent Scottish constituencies think it undesirable that people who are not acquainted with the problems of the Scottish Grand Committee should endeavour to impose any kind of reform on the Committee, and that if such an investigation should take place it should be done by consultation among the existing Members and not necessarily those who understand Army Estimates?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that we should welcome consultation on that point.