COUNCIL OF EUROPE

HC Deb 16 May 1960 vol 623 cc895-902

15. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what report he received of the deliberations of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe; to what extent hon. Members representing the United Kingdom at the Assembly are instructed by the Government; if he will publish a list of the names of those who have served at the Assembly since its inception; and what total sum has been paid in expenses and allowances to hon. Members attending these meetings during that period.

Mr. R. Allan

In addition to the official reports produced by the Secretariat of the Council of Europe, my right hon. and learned Friend also receives the reports of the United Kingdom Permanent Representative in Strasbourg.

Hon. Members representing the United Kingdom at the Assembly are not Government spokesmen, so there is no question of instructions being issued to them. But, if they wish, they are given background notes on the subjects to be discussed.

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the list of Members of both Houses selected as full delegates since the Assembly' inception.

As regards the last part of the Question, the total paid in expenses and allowances for the three years up to the 31st March, 1960, was £16,215.

Mr. Rankin

I am very grateful to the Joint Under-Secretary for the information he has given. In view of some of the things he indicated in his Answer, will he give the House a little more information? Will he say what exactly is the relevance of this organisation to happenings in Europe today, and even to proceedings in this House? He has told us that reports are received: why is it that we never have an opportunity freely and openly to debate these reports in the House? Will he draw the attention of his right hon. and learned Friend to that fact?

Will he also give information about one or two other things? Why is it that in some cases the Government seem to be extending the two-year period to a little longer than has been the practice? Is he further aware that there is a fear that some of the selections are becoming patronage appointments?

Mr. Allan

As the hon. Gentleman knows, selection is a matter for his own party organisation. Secondly, we do very often have debates. I have answered a number of Adjournment debates, and there are also Parliamentary Questions. If opportunities for further and wider-ranging debates are desired, no doubt that could be arranged through the usual channels.

Following is the list of full delegates to the Council of Europe, 1949–60:

1949

Labour Party Representatives

• The Lord President of the Council—Mr. H. Morrison.
• The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster—Mr. H. Dalton.
• The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury—Mr. W. Whiteley.
• The hon. Members for
• Broxtow—Mr. Cocks.
• Buckingham—Mr. Crawley.
• Coventry, West—Mr. Edelman.
• Lanark, North—Miss Herbison.
• Hulme—Mr. Lee.
• Hull, North West—Mr. R. Mackay.
• Bilston—Mr. Nally.
• The hon. and learned Member for Llandaff and Barry—Mr. Ungoed-Thomas.

Conservative Party Representatives

• The Leader of the Opposition and right hon. Member for Woodford—Mr. Churchill.
• The right hon. Member for Bromley—Mr. H. Macmillan.
• The right hon. and learned Member for Liverpool (West Derby)—Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe.
• The hon. Members for
• Aberdeenshire, East—Mr. Boothby.
• Chippenham—Mr. Eccles.
• Londonderry—Sir R. Ross.

Liberal Party Representative

• The noble Lord—Lord Layton.

1950

Labour Party Representatives

• The Minister of Town and Country Planning—Mr. H. Dalton.
• The Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty—Mr. J. Callaghan.
• The right hon. Member for Colne Valley—Mr. Glenvil Hall.
• The hon. Members for
• Leeds, North-East—Miss Bacon.
• Derbyshire, South-East—Mr. Champion.
• Coventry, North—Mr. Edelman.
• Edinburgh, Leith—Mr. Hoy.
• Reading, North—Mr. R. Mackay.
• The hon. and learned Member for Kettering—Mr. Mitchison.

Conservative Party Representatives

• The Leader of the Opposition and right hon. Member for Woodford—Mr. Churchill.
• The right hon. Member for Bromley—Mr. H. Macmillan.
• The right hon. and learned Member for Liverpool, West Derby—Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe.
• The right hon. Member for Streatham—Mr. Sandys.
• The hon. Members for
• Aberdeenshire, East—Mr. Boothby.
• Chippenham—Mr. Eccles.
• Northwich—Mr. J. Foster.
• Londonderry—Sir R. Ross.

Liberal Party Representative

• The noble Lord—Lord Layton.

1951, May

Labour Party Representatives

• The right hon. Member for
• Colne Valley—Mr. Glenvil Hall.
• The hon. Members for
• Leeds, North-Bast—Miss A. Bacon.
• Houghton-le-Spring—Mr. Blyton.
• Derbyshire, South-East—Mr. Champion.
• Gloucestershire, South—Mr. Crosland.
• Coventry, North—Mr. Edelman.
• Edinburgh, Leith—Mr. Hoy.
• Reading, North—Mr. Mackay.
• The hon. and learned Member for Kettering—Mr. Mitchison.

Conservative Party Representatives

• The Leader of the Opposition and right hon. Member for Woodford—Mr. Churchill.
• The right hon. Member for Bromley—Mr. H. Macmillan.
• The right hon. and learned Member for Liverpool, West Derby—Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe.
• The right hon. Member for
• Streatham—Mr. Sandys.
• The hon. Members for
• Aberdeenshire, East—Mr. Boothby.
• Northwich—Mr. Foster.
• Taunton—Mr. Hopkinson.
• Belfast, South—Mr. Gage.

Liberal Party Representative

• The noble Lord—Lord Layton.

1951, November

Conservative Party Representatives

• The Secretary of State for Home Department, the right hon. and learned Member for Liverpool, West Derby—Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe.
• The hon. Members for
• Northwich—Mr. J. Foster.
• Preston, North—Mr. J. Amery.
• Aberdeenshire, East—Mr. Boothby.
• Armagh—Mr. Harden.
• Devizes—Mr. Hollis.
• Lancaster—Mr. F. Maclean.
• Windsor—Mr. Mott-Radclyffe.
• Aberdeen, South—Lady Tweedsmuir.

Labour Party Representatives

• The right hon. Members for
• Belper—Mr. G. Brown.
• Colne Valley—Mr. Glenvil Hall.
• Smethwick—Mr. Gordon Walker.
• The hon. Members for
• Sheffield, Hillsborough—Mr. G. Darling.
• Lincoln—Mr. de Freitas.
• Hull, Central—Captain Hewitson.
• Edinburgh, Leith—Mr. Hoy.
• Faversham—Mr. P. Wells.

Liberal Party Representative

• The noble Lord—Lord Layton.

1952

Conservative Party Representatives

• The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the hon. Member for Melton—Mr. Nutting.
• The hon. Members for
• Aberdeenshire, East—Mr. Boothby.
• Aberdeen, South—Lady Tweedsmuir
• Belfast. North—Lieut.-Col. Hyde.
• Cambridge—Mr. Hamilton Kerr.
• Pentlands—Lord John Hope.
• Preston, North—Mr. J. Amery.
• Windsor—Mr. Mott-Radclyffe.
• The noble Lord—Lord Tweedsmuir.

Labour Party Representatives

• The right hon. Members for
• Belper—Mr. G. Brown.
• Blyth—Mr. Robens.
• Rochester and Chatham — Mr. Bottomley.
• Smethwick—Mr. Gordon Walker.
• The hon. Members for
• Leeds, North-East—Miss A. Bacon.
• Hillsborough—Mr. G. Darling.
• Kilmarnock—Mr. Ross.
• Lincoln—Mr. de Freitas.

Liberal Party Representative

• The noble Lord—Lord Layton.

1953

Conservative Party Representatives

• The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the hon. Member for Melton—Mr. Nutting.
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• The hon. Members for
• Aberdeenshire, East—Mr. Boothby.
• Belfast, North—Mr. Hyde.
• Devizes—Mr. Hollis.
• Hertfordshire, South-West — Mr. Longden.
• Lewes—Mr. Beamish.
• Pentlands—Lord John Hope.
• Preston, North—Mr. Amery.
• The noble Lord—Lord Goschen.

Labour Party Representatives

• The right hon. Members for
• Belper—Mr. G. Brown.
• Blyth—Mr. Robens.
• Rochester and Chatham — Mr. Bottomley.
• Fulham, West—Dr. E. Summerskill.
• The hon. Members for
• Kilmarnock—Mr. Ross.
• Leeds, South-East—Mr. Healey.
• Leicester, South-West—Mr. Bowden.
• Lincoln—Mr. de Freitas.

Liberal Party Representative

• The noble Lord—Lord Layton.

1954

Conservative Party Representatives

• The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the hon. Member for Melton—Mr. Nutting.
• The right hon. Member for Renfrew, West—Mr. Maclay.
• The hon. Members for
• Buckinghamshire, South—Mr. R. Bell.
• Birmingham, Handsworth—Sir E. Boyle.
• Belfast, South—Sir D. Campbell.
• Devizes—Mr. Hollies.
• Edinburgh, Pentlands—Lord John Hope.
• Bebington—Mr. Oakshott.
• The noble Lord—Lord Fairfax.

Labour Party Representatives

• The right hon. Members for
• Rochester and Chatham — Mr. Bottomley.
• Lewisham, South—Mr. H. Morrison.
• Blyth—Mr. Robens.
• The hon. Members for
• Cardiff, South-East—Mr. Callaghan.
• Stockton-on-Tees—Mr. Chetwynd.
• Lincoln—Mr. de Freitas.
• Workington—Mr. Peart.
• The noble Lord—Lord Henderson.

Liberal Party Representative

• The noble Lord—Lord Layton.

1955

Conservative Party Representatives

• The rt. hon. Member for
• Renfrew, West—Mr. Maclay
• The hon. Members for
• Aberdeenshire, East—Mr. Boothby.
• Belfast, South—Sir D. Campbell.
• The hon. and learned Member for
• Darwen—Mr. Fletcher-Cooke
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• The hon. Members for
• Glasgow, Scotstoun—Mr. Hutchison.
• Edgbaston—Miss Pitt.
• Winchester—Mr. Smithers.
• The noble Lord—Lord Chesham.

Labour Party Representatives

• The rt. hon. Members for
• Lewisham. South—Mr. Morrison.
• Brighouse and Spenborough—
• Mr. Edwards.
• Derby, South—Mr. Noel-Baker.
• Coventry, South—Miss Burton.
• Bermondsey—Mr. Mellish.
• Dundee, East—Mr. Thomson.
• Northampton—Mr. Paget.
• The noble Lord—Lord Henderson.

Liberal Party Representative

• The noble Lord—Lord Layton.

1956

Conservative Party Representatives

• The right hon. Members for
• Moss Side—Dame F. Horsbrugh.
• Renfrew, West—Mr. Maclay.
• The hon. Members for
• Preston, North—Mr. Amery.
• Belfast, South—Sir D. Campbell.
• Henley—Mr. Hay.
• Glasgow, Scotstoun—Sir J. Hutchison.
• Farnham—Mr. Nicholson.
• Bebington—Mr. Oakshott.
• The noble Lord—Lord Chesham.

Labour Party Representatives

• The Leader of the Opposition and rt. hon.
• Member for Leeds, South—Mr. Gaitskell.
• The rt. hon. Member for
• Brighouse and Spenborough—Mr. Edwards.
• The hon. Members for
• Goole—Mr. G. Jeger.
• Stechford—Mr. Roy Jenkins.
• Hartlepool—Mr. D. Jones.
• Newcastle-upon-Tyne, West—Mr. Popplewell.
• Sunderland, North—Mr. Willey.
• The hon. and learned Member for Northampton—Mr. Paget.

Liberal Party Representative

• The noble Lord—Lord Layton.

1957

Conservative Party Representatives

• The right hon. Member for Moss Side—Dame F. Horsbrugh.
• The hon. Members for
• Aberdeenshire, East—Mr. Boothby.
• Rutherglen—Mr. Brooman-White.
• Antrim—Mr. Cunningham.
• Henley—Mr. John Hay.
• Glasgow, Scotstoun—Sir J. Hutchison.
• Hertfordshire, South-West—Mr. Longden.
• Farnham—Sir G. Nicholson.
• The noble Lord—Viscount Stonehaven.

Labour Party Representatives

• The Leader of the Opposition and right hon. Member for Leeds, South—Mr. Gaitskell.
• The right hon. Members for
• Brighouse and Spenborough—Mr. Edwards.
• Middlesbrough, East—Mr. Marquand.
• The hon. Members for
• Oldham, West—Mr. Hale.
• Stoke-on-Trent, North—Mrs. Slater.
• Bristol, South—Mr. Wilkins.
• Sunderland, North—Mr. Willey.

Liberal Party Representative

• The hon. Member for Bolton, West—Mr. Holt.

1958

Conservative Party Representatives

• The right hon. Members for
• Richmond, Yorks—Sir T. Dugdale.
• Moss Side—Dame F. Horsbrugh.
• The hon. Members for
• Rutherglen—Mr. Brooman-White.
• Antrim, South—Mr. Knox Cunningham.
• Henley—Mr. Hay.
• Croydon, North-East—Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett.
• Glasgow, Scotstoun—Sir J. Hutchison.
• Gravesend—Mr. Kirk.
• The noble Lord—Viscount Stonehaven.

Labour Party Representatives

• The right hon. Members for
• Brighouse and Spenborough—Mr. Edwards.
• Llanelly—Mr. J. Griffiths.
• Middlesbrough, East—Mr. Marquand.
• The hon. Members for
• Bedwellty—Mr. Finch.
• Oldham, West—Mr. Hale.
• Salford, West—Mr. Royle.
• Dunbartonshire, West—Mr. Steele.
• Bristol, South—Mr. Wilkins.

Liberal Party Representative

• The hon. Member for Bolton, West—Mr. Holt.

1959

Conservative Party Representatives

• The right hon. Members for
• Moss Side—Dame F. Horsbrugh.
• Richmond, Yorks,—Sir T. Dugdale.
• The hon. Members for
• Bebington—Mr. H. D. Oakshott.
• Wembley, South—Mr. Russell.
• Londonderry—Mr. Chichester-Clark.
• Croydon, North-East — Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett.
• Glasgow, Scotstoun—Sir J. Hutchison.
• Gravesend—Mr. Kirk.
• The noble Lord—Lord Lothian.

Labour Party Representatives

• The right hon. Members for
• Llanelly—Mr. Griffiths.
• Brighouse and Spenborough — Mr. Edwards.
• Rowley Regis and Tipton—Mr. A. Henderson.
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• The hon. Members for
• Gorbals—Mrs. Alice Cullen.
• Sheffield, Park—Mr. Mulley.
• Gateshead, West—Mr. Randall.
• Sedgefield—Mr. Slater.
• Dunbartonshire, West—Mr. Steele.

Liberal Party Representative

• The hon. Member for Torrington—Mr. M. Bonham Carter.

1960

Conservative Party Representatives

• The hon. Members for
• Londonderry—Mr. R. Chichester-Clark.
• Croydon, North-East — Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett.
• Gravesend—Mr. P. Kirk.
• Halifax—Mr. M. Macmillan.
• Horncastle—Commander Maitland.
• Eastleigh—Mr. D. Price.
• Wembley, South—Mr. R. Russell.
• Winchester—Mr. Smithers.
• The noble Lady—Baroness Horsbrugh.
• The noble Lord—Lord Lothian.

Labour Party Representatives

• The right hon. Members for
• Belper—Mr. G. Brown.
• Rowley Regis and Tipton—Mr. A. Henderson.
• The hon. Members for
• Crewe—Mr. Scholefield Allen.
• Leigh—Mr. H. Boardman.
• Sheffield, Attercliffe—Mr. Hynd.
• Sheffield, Park—Mr. Mulley.
• West Lothian—Mr. Taylor.

Liberal Party Representative

• The noble Lord—Lord Granchester.