§ 37. Mr. G. Campbellasked the Paymaster-General, in view of the fact that he is not himself responsible for the co-ordination of home information services, what administrative machinery is available to him to carry out his responsibility for answering Questions on such coordination, and from which Departments it is drawn.
§ The Paymaster-General (Mr. George Wigg)The Civil Service machinery is available to me and Departments are consulted as appropriate.
§ Mr. CampbellAs it can hardly be full-time work, may I ask whether this staff also assists the Paymaster-General in his other duties?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerDoes that include collecting dossiers on all Members of Parliament, or just those on the Government side of the House?
§ Mr. GoodhewPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman can tell us what these other duties are?
§ Mr. WiggThe hon. Member knows quite well that if he wishes to question the nature of my duties he should put a Question down to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
§ 38. Mr. G. Campbellasked the Paymaster-General what steps he is taking to improve the co-ordination of home information services in explaining Government policy on land use and the granting of planning permission.
§ Mr. CampbellCan the Paymaster-General explain reports in the Press recently that there are conflicting views between the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources and Housing and that this is what is holding up the presentation of the Land Commission Bill?
§ Mr. WiggI am not responsible for what appears in the Press, particularly that section of it which hon. Members opposite inspire in the Tory Press.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterDoes the right hon. Gentleman's Answer explain why in fact there is no co-ordination and why, in particular, his right hon. Friend the Minister of Land and Natural Resources has nothing whatever to do in the allocation of land by way of planning permission?
§ Mr. CampbellWhy is it that in Scotland, where the Minister of Natural Resources has no responsibility, it is possible for one Minister to carry out all his duties?
§ Mr. WiggI cannot do better, in reply, than to draw the hon. Member's attention to the Answer which was given on 12th November in col. 1186.
§ 41. Mr. Goodhewasked the Paymaster-General whether Her Majesty's Government is satisfied with the co-ordination of home information services in explaining the Government's views on closer political, military and commercial relations with Europe; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodhewWould the right hon. Gentleman explain, when he replies with the phrase "Yes, Sir", whether he is saying that he is satisfied with the co-ordination of information or whether he is saying "Yes, Sir" in answer to my Question, which asks if he will make a statement?
§ Mr. GoodhewWill the right hon. Gentleman make a statement, because there seems to be a good deal of confusion resulting from the various statements made by right hon. Gentlemen opposite, as to whether or not this Government intend to go into Europe?
§ Mr. WiggThe confusion exists, not unnaturally, in the hon. Gentleman's mind. From my point of view, I am satisfied and I said so.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerWhy is the right hon. Gentleman making so much fuss and mystery about activities for which lie is paid so much, if, in fact, there are any activities?
§ Mr. WiggThat is a good debating point, but I do not know where it gets us. As I said before, if hon. Gentlemen opposite wish to know the precise nature of my duties in this Administration—and this goes for the duties, in this and in other Administrations, of a Minis- 994 ter without Portfolio—they must put down Questions to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. It is not a matter for me. [Interruption.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is no mystery whatever about the activities of hon. Gentlemen opposite; they are gunning for my right hon. Friend and he is justified, therefore, in treating them with the utmost contempt?
§ Mr. WiggI beg your pardon and that of the House, Mr. Speaker. I am obliged to my right hon. Friend for his remarks. If I am being gunned for by the Conservative Party I regard that as no greater compliment, because I am no pseudo-Tory. I hate their guts, I always have and I always shall. [Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The House must conduct Question Time with reasonable courtesy, both sides of it, otherwise it degrades itself.
§ Mr. ShepherdOn a point of order. Is there anything that you or the House can do to protect the reputation of the House from the kind of behaviour—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. ShinwellTell the hon. Member for Cheadle (Mr. Shepherd) to behave himself.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I am being addressed on a point of order. Part of the requirement of behaving oneself is for hon. Members to allow the Chair to hear what is being said.
§ Mr. ShepherdI was asking, Mr. Speaker, if there is anything the House or you can do to protect the House and its reputation from the kind of behaviour and answer we have just heard from the Paymaster-General, since I feel that that answer must be degrading to our reputation?
§ Mr. SpeakerI indicated that I thought that the House should abstain from that kind of thing in the interests of its reputation.
§ Mr. William HamiltonFurther to that point of order. This cannot go by default. You recognise, no doubt, that the abuse originated on the opposite side of the House, Mr. Speaker, so that my right hon. Friend is perfectly entitled to reply in kind.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is why I did not assign any blame exclusively to either side of the House but said that hon. Members should abstain from it. I said both sides, that is what I meant and that is what I maintain.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonOn a point of order. Is it not a gross abuse for a Minister of the Crown contemptuously to refuse to account for his duties to the House of Commons? Are not Ministers still responsible to Parliament for their duties?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat raises no point of order for me. If the answer which is given on some topic is thought to be insufficient that is not a matter for the Chair.
§ Mr. G. CampbellOn a point of Order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Paymaster-General's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment.