HC Deb 26 February 1969 vol 778 cc1718-9
42. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Lord President of the Council what is the estimated cost of paying House of Commons officials to check the signatures on the Save the Argylls Petition.

Mr. Peart

The Select Committee on Public Petitions has not yet reported on the number of signatures, but if a million signatures were counted the cost would be about £80.

Mr. Dalyell

Is this counting a proper activity for serious people? How are the serious being sorted out from the ribald, and will he say what weight is given to signatures like those of Alexei Kosygin and Johnny Mao Tse-tung.

Mr. Peart

I cannot reply to that question.

Mr. Younger

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that while the staff are busy counting the signatures the Government have ignored the views of over a million people?

Mr. Peart

I hope the hon. Member will appreciate that other Scottish regiments were closed down by the Conservative Government.

Mr. Edward M. Taylor

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that further expenditure of time and money would be saved if the Government would reverse this deplorable decision which has caused an explosion of anger amongst friends at home and abroad?

Mr. Peart

If I were to adopt the suggestion of the hon. Member, it would cost a lot more.