§ 35. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Lord President of the Council if he will now seek to move the composition and terms of reference of the House Services Committee.
§ The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Bowden)I refer my hon. Friend to the proceedings on the Motion yesterday.
§ Mr. HamiltonI am very glad that this somewhat dilatory progress has been made in the right direction. However, can my right hon. Friend tell the House what direct executive responsibilities the Committee will have? Will he urge on it in particular the importance of getting on with the recommendations about the efficient working of the Estimates Committee?
§ Mr. BowdenThe Select Committee of the House of Commons which reported in the last Session of Parliament laid down the proposals on which this Committee is to work. The Committee has not yet had its first meeting, but it will have before it the issue of the Estimates Committee and many other matters.
§ Mr. Stratton MillsCan the right hon. Gentleman arrange for the Committee to examine whether the licensing laws of the Palace of Westminster are affected by the building ceasing to be a Roy al Palace?
§ Mr. BowdenIf the right hon. Gentleman refers to the Report of the Select Committee, he will see that the Palace does not cease to be a Royal Palace, but is still one of Her Majesty's Palaces, so that the question hardly arises.