HC Deb 27 June 1957 vol 572 cc409-10
48. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider asking the Committee of Privy Councillors studying the question of the burden on Cabinet Ministers to report as to how far these burdens might be relieved by extending the committee system which will enable more honourable Members to take their share in the work of Government.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I have been asked to reply.

No doubt the Committee of Privy Councillors will take note of this suggestion, although my right hon. Friend is not quite clear exactly what the hon. Gentleman has in mind.

Mr. Hughes

Is the Leader of the House aware that what I had in mind was that if the Committee system were extended, many hon. Members on both sides of the House with great experience of all kinds of industrial and social problems would have an opportunity of giving greater service to the House, and relieving the Ministers?

Mr. Butler

What I was not quite sure about was whether the hon. Member had in mind the idea of Congressional Committees as in the United States. If so, I am not at all clear that it would lessen the burden on Ministers. Judging by the experience of the United States legislature, it would increase the burden on Ministers.

49. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Prime Minister what steps he intends to take to lighten the burden which now falls on the holder of the office of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Mr, R. A. Butler

I have been asked to reply.

This is also a matter which will no doubt be considered in general by the Committee of Privy Councillors.

Mr. Hughes

Is the Leader of the House aware that the Foreign Secretary is showing obvious signs of overstrain, and that the right hon. Gentlemon would be doing a good service to the Minister and to the country if he relieved his right hon. and learned Friend of these onerous burdens, including those of broadcasting in "Women's Hour"? Is he aware that responsible American papers recently said that the odds are three to two that the Foreign Secretary will be removed of his office by the autumn, and are these odds the real odds?

Mr. Butler

Her Majesty's Government have the utmost confidence in the ability and freshness of my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary, and if he is to be relieved of certain anxieties, perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down fewer Questions of this sort on the Order Paper.