§ Q4. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Miinster if he will now establish the Select Committee for the Review of the Civil List.
§ The Prime MinisterI am not yet in a position to add to the answers I gave to similar Questions from the hon. Member on 27th October and 25th February.—[Vol. 805, c. 25–6; Vol. 812, c. 842.]
§ Mr. HamiltonCan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that, as selected, the Committee will be representative not only as between party and party, which is a different thing, but as between individual and individual? Could I make my own personal application now?
§ The Prime MinisterI have no doubt of the hon. Gentleman's interest in this matter but I think he will agree that it is not my responsibility to appoint a Select Committee. The responsibility rests on the House, which has the opportunity to debate and vote upon it.
§ Mr. DormandWould the Prime Minister agree that this kind of Committee 682 requires Members with special knowledge and new ideas? Would he not further agree that my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) is ideally qualified in this respect?
§ The Prime MinisterThe House has always considered a Select Committee of this kind to be of the utmost importance. It has usually contained senior Members of the House, but at the same time it has been widely representative of the different views. I imagine that the House will take the same attitude on this occasion.