HC Deb 24 October 1968 vol 770 cc1606-7
Mr. Speaker

If the House so desires I will put all the Amendments to this Order together.

Mr. David Steel (Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles)

I wish to seek an assurance about the last Amendment, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

I have said that if the House so desires I will put all the Amendments in one. If the hon. Member objects to that, I will put them one by one. He can speak on any of them if I put them together. Is he satisfied?

Mr. Steel

Yes, Sir.

Motion made, and Question proposed,

That Standing Order No. 61 (Scottish Standing Committee) be amended as follows:

Line 1, leave out from beginning to 'for' in line 2.

Line 7, at end insert: 'standing committees shall be appointed as set out in this order'.

Line 19, leave out 'the Scottish' and insert 'such a'.

Line 36, leave out 'the' and insert 'a'.

Line 37, leave out 'the' and insert: 'not more than two committees may be appointed; the first such'.

Line 43, after first 'members', insert: 'and the second such committee shall consist of not less than twenty nor more than fifty members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection, of whom not less than twenty members shall represent Scottish constituencies'.—[Mr. Peart.]

Mr. David Steel

I want to seek an assurance from the Leader of the House about the Amendment in line 43. This is a matter I have raised before, but I should like to get something on the record about it. The difficulty is that when Scottish Committees are appointed to deal with Public Bills it is perfectly natural for the convenience of the House that they should be of the smallest possible size, namely, 20, specified in this proposed Standing Order.

In cases where Committees of 20 are appointed, it is not normal to have a representative from the Liberal Party because the Committee of Selection has instructions to bear in mind the composition of the House. It is fair to say, however, that in Scottish Committees the Liberal Party can legitimately claim to represent a greater proportion of seats. I hope, therefore, that we will not find ourselves, by taking this step, deprived of representation on a Bill relating to Scotland.

Mr. Peart

I concede the hon. Gentleman's point. I think that it is right.

Question put and agreed to.