§ Q9. Mr. William Hamilton asked the Prime Minister what plans he has for establishing pre-legislation committees of back bench Members of Parliament.
§ The Prime MinisterThis suggestion is, so I understand, at present before the Select Committee on Procedure and I think we should await their Report.
§ Mr. HamiltonCan my right hon. Friend give any idea of when these talks of his will be translated into action? Will he give an assurance that in his role as First Lord of the Treasury he will not be remiss in providing finance and bodies to staff these committees adequately?
§ The Prime MinisterWithout wishing to prejudge the Report of the Select Committee, which, like my hon. Friend, I am awaiting with very great interest, I believe there is a very special role to be played by legislators in this House in pre-legislation committees particularly on issues which do not carry with them a great content of Government policy but on which very often there is a matter of controversy and essential progress is frequently held up by that fact.