§ Q.1. Mr. Gregor Mackenzieasked the Prime Minister which Minister will be responsible for answering Questions and replying to debates on defence in the House of Commons.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)The Minister of State for Defence, assisted by the Under-Secretaries of State, as appropriate.
§ Mr. MackenzieWill the Prime Minister accept that we on this side and, I suspect, many hon. Members opposite, regard the present arrangement as extremely unsatisfactory? Defence is one of the biggest spending Departments and one of the most controversial, yet the Secretary of State hides himself away in the House of Lords. Will the Prime Minister persuade his noble Friend to contest the first by-election available in an effort to come here, like the rest of us, on an elected basis?
§ The Prime MinisterThere are ample precedents for spending Departments being represented in the other House, and I have complete confidence in my hon. Friend to answer in this House.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonAs the constitution provides for a bicameral system of Parliamentary Government, is it not entirely appropriate that some important Cabinet Ministers should sit in the other place?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.