Home Information Services (Hansard, 14 November 1966)

§ 35. Mr. Onslow
asked the Paymaster General if he will publish a White Paper on the co-ordination of home information services.

§ The Paymaster-General (Mr. George Wigg)
No, Sir.

§ Mr. Onslow
May I ask the Paymaster-General whether he is aware that the nature of his activities causes a great deal of concern, and can he now give one good reason why he should be excluded from investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner?

§ Mr. Wigg
I am not aware that that supplementary arises out of the original Question.

§ 36. Mr. A. Royle
asked the Paymaster-General what arrangements have been initiated since October, 1964 for improving the co-ordination of the home information services.

§ Mr. Wigg
None, Sir.

§ Mr. Royle
Why not?

§ Mr. Wigg
Apparently the hon. Gentleman could not have been here for the previous week's performance, nor could be have read HANSARD. I only answer Questions about the information services. I am not responsible for policy. That has been made clear by the Prime Minister. I have tried to make it clear. I would suggest to the hon. Gentleman that if he will read HANSARD he may appreciate the point.

§ Sir J. Rodgers
Does the right hon. Gentleman's reply mean that he thinks there is absolutely no chance for betterment whatever in co-ordination of the information services?

§ Mr. Wigg
It just means this, that under the previous Administration there were two Ministers paid from public funds performing party work—Conservative Party work—and the Prime Minister specifically repudiated as an act of policy that this Administration should do anything as corrupt as that.

§ Mr. Graham Page
On a point of order. Is it Parliamentary language—[HON. MEMBERS: "Yes."]—to accuse Members of corruption?

§ Mr. Speaker
Such charges made against an individual would be not in order, but there are charges against individual Members which would not be in order but which can be made against a Government. Things like that have often been said.

§ Mr. Wigg
It was on that latter note that my answer was made.

§ 37. Mr. Marten
asked the Paymaster-General what proposals he has for the improvement of the co-ordination of home information services; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Wigg
None, Sir.

§ Mr. Marten
If the Minister seriously has no proposals for improving the coordination of home information services, does he think that possibly there is room for some improvement about the Answers to Questions for which he is answerable in Parliament? Would not an improvement be started if he were to withdraw—[HON. MEMBERS: "Too long."]—the remark he made last year that he hates the guts of Tories?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. We cannot hold an inquest on last year.

§ Mr. Wigg
In view of your Ruling, Mr. Speaker, I will not say what I was going to say in reply to the latter part of that question. As regards the first part, I will again try to point out to the hon. Gentleman, not with much hope of success, that I am not responsible for producing proposals; I am responsible for answering Questions about the information services. Therefore, I can reply only in terms of matters for which I am responsible.

§ Mr. Hogg
Is it not obvious that the right hon. Gentleman has no useful or honourable work at all?

§ Mr. Wigg
I am carrying out the same sort of job as was done under previous Administrations. I could not have done it any worse than it was done in the past, however hard I tried. As for my duties in connection with co-ordination, I would suggest to the right hon. and learned Gentleman that at least from time to time we have produced some evidence, which he can read, if he cannot understand; but if he will read Answers to previous Questions he will see that this Administration do have Ministers for coordination of home services: it is Departmental practice, Departmental responsibility, and it is known to hon. and right hon. Gentlemen on the other side of the House. It was a corrupt operation of the previous Administration to have two Ministers paid from public funds doing a party job.

§ Sir C. Taylor
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he might learn a great deal if he tapped my telephone?

§ Mr. Wigg
At least I should have thought that question out of order.

§ Mr. Speaker
It is quite clearly not relevant.

§ Mr. A. Royle
May I ask your advice, Mr. Speaker? In view of the fact that the Paymaster-General is apparently unwilling to answer Questions in the House, would it be possible under the rules of order for us to ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee to invite the Paymaster-General to give evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on the work he has done in the Government?

§ Mr. Speaker
That is not a point of order, and the hon. Member knows that it is not a point of order.

§ Sir Knox Cunningham rose
—

§ Mr. Speaker
I am not going to waste Question Time on false points of order.

§ Sir Knox Cunningham
On a point of order. You called me, Mr. Speaker, to put a Question. Does that still hold good?

§ Mr. Speaker
Apparently not.

§ Sir Knox Cunningham
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I shall raise the matter at an early moment.