Committees (Reports) (Hansard, 7 April 1965)

§ 16. Mr. Marten
asked the Paymaster-General whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination of home information services on the publication of Reports of Committees set up by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Wigg
Yes, Sir.

§ Mr. Marten
When Reports of these Committees show the previous allegations made by the right hon. Gentleman and his friends to be absolutely false, is the Paymaster-General satisfied that the co-ordination of the information services brings to public notice the clear distinction between falsehoods put forward in a previous debate on the Ferranti affair and the Lang Report and the truth of the Lang Report?

§ Mr. Wigg
If there is any question of falsehoods over the Ferranti debate the hon. Gentleman should search his own conscience. Regarding the question of my responsibility, the hon. Member will have to look at HANSARD for 12th November—[HON. MEMBERS: "He has."]—I suggest that he has another look, and he will find that his question is based on a false premise.

§ Wing Commander Sir E. Bullus
Do these Answers from the Paymaster-General mean that he has become the Government's chief "Yes" man?

§ Mr. Wigg
Yes, if it is in terms of wholehearted and enthusiastic approval of the Government's policy, yes—a thousand times yes.

§ Mr. Biggs-Davison
May we also conclude from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that he is always satisfied, but never responsible?

§ Mr. Wigg
I am responsible, and conscious of my responsibility. Hon. Members on the Opposition Front Bench ought to know, if hon. Members opposite on the back benches do not know, that Questions about my responsibility or that of any other Minister should be addressed to the Prime Minister and not to me.

Mr. J. T. Price
Has my right hon. Friend any idea which he would care to debate in the House—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—I will start again. Has my right hon. Friend any idea which genius opposite may be responsible for the co-ordination of the 16 inept Questions to him which appear on the Order Paper?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. That question is out of order. We must now cross the Border. Mr. Dalyell.