§ 51. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that the majority of Members now returned for Scottish constituencies are opposed to 1430 Her Majesty's Government, what proposals he has for making the Scottish Grand Committee more representative of opinion in Scotland.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Standing Orders governing the constitution and procedure of the Scottish Grand Committee were revised in December last year. I have no proposals for a change.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Prime Minister aware that the Government now have a minority of Scottish hon. Members representing Scottish constituencies, and that he is pushing through the Scottish Grand Committee legislation which is opposed by both the local authorities and the elected representatives? Is he also aware that even the Lord Privy Seal has come to the conclusion that if this is democracy, it would have been better if the right hon. Gentleman's grandfather had stayed in Scotland?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think there is anything very new in this situation. In any case, I think the House on the whole would feel that it was wrong to reopen the long discussions and the agreed arrangements made with regard to the Scottish Grand Committee.