HC Deb 11 March 1970 vol 797 cc1342-3
43. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will now seek to implement the proposals contained in the 1958–59 Report of the Select Committee on Procedure relating to the participation of Privy Councillors in debates.

Mr. Peart

The view taken by the Government at that time was that this question of Privy Councillors' rights in debate is best left to the discretion of the Chair; I share this view.

Mr. Hamilton

That is a nice way of passing the buck! Is my right hon. Friend aware that if there were a free vote in the House on this matter there would be an overwhelming majority against the kind of experience that we had on the second day of the Common Market debate when 40 minutes of a whole day's debate were allocated to back benchers and all the rest to Privy Councillors? Who the devil do they think they are?

Mr. Peart

I do not intend to pass the buck; I am merely expressing a view, and I think my view is right.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

Did not the Lord President, unwittingly perhaps, give a contradictory reply in answer to the original Question? Did not he say that Privy Councillors have rights and then go on to say that the Chair has discretion? Will he emphasise that Privy Councillors have no rights at all and that this is purely in the discretion of the Chair?

Mr. Peart

I think my hon. Friend is being too pedantic.

Mr. Lewis

I am not being pedantic.

Mr. Peart

I take the view that selection for debate is a matter in the discretion of the Chair.

Sir A. V. Harvey

Would not this problem be overcome if all hon. Members were made Privy Councillors?