§ 35. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will amend the order in which Ministers answer Questions by abolishing the existing Welsh and Scottish Question days and replacing them with days where Questions from every region of the United Kingdom can in turn be taken.
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Fred Peart)No, Sir.
§ Mr. RobertsAlthough we understand some of the difficulties, does my right hon. Friend not agree that the present set-up produces an unhealthy form of nationalism and, at the same time, gives undoubted advantages to hon. Members who represent constituencies in Scotland and Wales over those who represent constituencies in England? Would he not agree that this is merely a matter of a square deal for hon. Members who represent constituencies other than in Scotland and Wales, and that many of us would welcome an extension—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Hon. Members must be brief, please, on this important issue.
§ Mr. RobertsMany of us would welcome the extension of the Parliamentary working year to enable other regions of Great Britain to receive equal treatment.
§ Mr. PeartI agree very much with what my right hon. Friend has said. I deplore unhealthy nationalism, but my hon. Friend must appreciate that the inclusion of Scotland and Wales in the roster is justified because specific Ministers have responsibilities exclusive to those areas, and no area claims the exclusive attention of particular Ministers. It is for this reason that we have that arrangement.
Mr. Edward M. TaylorHas the hon. Gentleman the Member for South Bedfordshire (Mr. Gwilym Roberts) not shown amazing parochialism and ignorance by putting that question? Does the 878 Minister not appreciate that the Secretary of State for Scotland is responsible for answering Questions which are answered by an equivalent of seven Government Ministers on a national basis, and that he does not answer these Questions very well in any event?
§ Mr. PeartI am amazed that the hon. Gentleman should disagree when I say that I deplore unhealthy nationalism. He knows full well the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Scotland and of the Secretary of State for Wales. My answer was precise, and I should have thought that it would have been accepted. I hope the hon. Gentleman does not think that this is a party matter.
§ Mr. James GriffithsWhile I share the view of my right hon. Friend that Welsh Questions must go on, may I ask whether he would agree that it would be a great pity if we were to lose the lovely Welsh accent of my hon. Friend?
§ Mr. PeartI think that the loss of accents would be a tragedy for any reason. I deplore the standardisation of English.
§ 40. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Lord Privy Seal when, in the next Session of Parliament, he plans to move to set up a Select Committee to review the problems arising on the rules governing Parliamentary Questions.
§ Mr. PeartI hope that a Select Committee on Procedure will be set up very early in the new Session. I have noted this as one possible subject for their consideration.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIn noting subjects for their consideration will the right hon. Gentleman have in mind that, whereas the number of Ministers and the scope of their intervention in the national life has steadily widened over the years, the time available for oral Questions is no greater than it was in 1945? In those circumstances, will he consider this as a matter of urgency, and set up a Select Committee to recommend quickly an improvement which will enable hon. Members to have a reasonable chance of putting an oral Question to a Minister?