HC Deb 04 March 1968 vol 760 cc28-9
36. Mr. James Davidson

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move to amend Standing Orders so that the membership of the Scottish Grand Committee shall consist solely of the 71 elected Members from Scotland.

Mr. Crossman

No, Sir. It is desirable that this Standing Committee, like others, should have representation from the House as a whole.

Mr. Davidson

Why should not the votes of the people of Scotland be directly represented in the Scottish Grand Committee? It is, admittedly, a poor thing, but it is our own.

Mr. Crossman

I have now been Leader of the House long enough to know that whatever I say on the subject someone will disagree with it. I know that I have hon. Friends below the Gangway who would keenly resent the idea that no Englishman should have the right to sit on that Committee.

Mrs. Ewing

Is the Lord President of the Council aware that English members of the Scottish Grand Committee make little or no contribution to our debates—[Interruption.]—and that in Scotland their right to sit on the Committee is regarded as either a joke or an insult?

Mr. Crossman

I must say, if I may misquote, they also serve who only sit and listen.

38. Mr. David Steel

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will seek to amend standing orders to enable meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee to be held in Parliament Hall, Edinburgh.

Mr. Crossman

There are a number of difficulties involved in this suggestion, which I think might be suitable for consideration in the future by a Select Committee on Procedure.

Mr. Steel

I am sure that the Lord President of the Council is aware that for a year or two now I have tried without success to get Scottish procedure considered by the Committee on Procedure. Is he aware that I have great confidence in his ability to overcome the difficulties involved in this Question?

Mr. Crossman

I appreciate the compliment. I can conceive of a committee which we could select and man which could consider this subject as one of its topics.

Mr. Lawson

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that Scotland is an integral part of the United Kingdom, and that many of us on this side and, I think, on the other side, would be very seriously opposed to anything which would banish us to Edinburgh, and so not be able to play an effective part in United Kingdom affairs?

Mr. Crossman

I am aware that this point of view is likely to be represented on any Committee on Procedure.

Mrs. Ewing

Is the right hon. Gentleman able at this stage to state any of the objections that exist to this very reasonable proposal?

Mr. Crossman

I could have stated them, but I think that I am right in saying that there was an Adjournment debate a short time ago, when someone much more expert than I—the Secretary of State for Scotland—made a most admirable reply to that debate on this question, which the hon. Lady should no doubt judiciously study.