HC Deb 01 July 1968 vol 767 cc1088-9
43. Mr. Maddan

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will seek to amend the House of Commons Offices Act 1812 to substitute for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretaries of State, the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General as members of the House of Commons Offices Commission, the Leader of the House, the Chairman of Ways and Means, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, the Opposition Chief Whip and three other Members to be nominated by Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Peart

It would be premature to draw conclusions at this stage. As I said during the exchanges following the business statement last Thursday, the present position regarding the issues raised about the staffing of the House will be urgently considered by the Services Committee and reported to the House.

Mr. Maddan

Does the Lord Privy Seal recollect that the Services Committee apparently did not protest at the cuts that were enforced last year? Will he also have regard to the fact that as the Services Committee is mainly nominated by the Whips the Government could always have a majority on it, and to change it in present conditions is rather like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire? Finally, will he bear in mind that this House is the watchdog of the taxpayers' interest, and that it is an unnecessary impertinence for the Treasury to interfere with it?

Mr. Speaker

Order. Supplementary questions should be reasonably brief.

Mr. Peart

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will not look upon the Services Committee as a tool of the Executive. It is an all-party Committee which does valuable service, as I hope the hon. Gentleman will, on reflection, appreciate. As I said as Leader of the House during business questions, the first step in relation to an inquiry into this important matter should be for the Services Committee to consider it. I thought that there was agreement on that on both sides.

Mr. Maxwell

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that I resent the imputation made by some hon. Members that I am a tool of any party? Furthermore, does he not agree that the Services Committee has not been given a chance to consider the matter before, but that we look forward to considering it?

Mr. Peart

I am quite sure that the Services Committee will consider it.