HC Deb 02 July 1969 vol 786 cc426-7
37. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will propose a Standing Order to provide time for debate on reports of select committees of the House, within 40 Parliamentary days of their publication.

Mr. Peart

No, Sir. But I will continue to do what I can to ensure that a reasonable proportion of the available Parliamentary time is allotted to debates on such reports.

Mr. Dalyell

Will the Lord President recognise that Members of all parties do a great deal of work on these Committees, and that, while in many cases the Government may be quite right in resisting their recommendations, at least the House should know why and do some progress chasing?

Mr. Peart

That may be so, but my hon. Friend must realise that, including Special Reports, there were 55 Reports from Select Committees last Session, and there have been 31 so far this. I cannot arrange 31 full days. I try to adjust priorities.

Mr. Jopling

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider the position of the Select Committee on Agriculture, which reported a long time ago? Is he aware that the Ministry of Agriculture, having got its way by getting the Government to wind up the Committee, has now not even had the courtesy to reply?

Mr. Peart

The hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Jopling) should not make remarks like that. He knows full well that I have great sympathy with what was done in that Committee, but it was appointed for an experimental period, and he must await decisions.