§ 23. Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise that the terms of reference of the Commission on the Constitution should include consideration of the possible reduction in the numbers of Members of Parliament.
§ Mr. CallaghanThe terms of reference would not rule out a recommendation on this point as a consequence of other recommendations the Commission might make.
§ Mr. MartenIn view of the developments which might take place in both 1557 regional and local government, does not the Home Secretary think that there is some merit in the proposition, particularly if regional governments could take some of the work load off Whitehall?
§ Mr. CallaghanAs I said in my original Answer, if these recommendations were considered by the Commission, this point might arise when it was discussing any consequential alterations. As regard the hon. Gentleman's general point, I dare say that we could all think of hon. Members whom we would be better without.
§ Mr. Raphael TuckWould my right hon. Friend give an assurance that one of the terms of reference of the Constitutional Commission will be to consider whether, as a great percentage of our legislation does not apply to Northern Ireland, it is desirable to have 12 hon. Members representing Northern Ireland constituencies voting on matters which do not concern them?
§ Mr. CallaghanHaving set up the Commission, I think that we should now allow it to get to work on the problems themselves, without expressing our views on the question, at any rate officially as a Government. I would remind my hon. Friend that the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Captain O'Neill, has agreed to the establishment of a panel to consider the constitutional relationships between Northern Ireland and this country, and I have no doubt that the Commission will want to examine what he has to say on the matter.