HC Deb 15 July 1971 vol 821 cc718-20
Q7. Mr. Robert Hughes

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make it a practice of his Administration that Ministers making speeches abroad always make it clear whether or not they are speaking on behalf of Her Majesty's Government.

Q13. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Prime Minister what is the practice of his Administration in regard to Governmental responsibility for statements made by Ministers overseas.

The Prime Minister

Speeches made by members of this Administration, whether at home or abroad, naturally reflect the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Hughes

Is the Prime Minister aware that a speech was made by the Minister of State for Defence at Munich in February of this year, and that the Ministry of Defence is now claiming that the Minister of State attended that conference in a purely private capacity, with the result that hon. Members have been denied the opportunity to put direct questions on that policy statement? That is bad enough, but will the right hon. Gentleman realise that other participating countries probably do not understand the technicalities of the British parliamentary system, and will he therefore write to the heads of Governments and say that the Minister of State was not speaking on behalf of the Government, and was therefore not expressing Government policy?

The Prime Minister

I understand that a copy of the Minister of State's speech has been put in the Library and is available for hon. Members to see. It was not, therefore, a private occasion, and I know of nothing in it that is contrary to Government policy.

Mr. Jenkins

The Prime Minister said that the noble Earl who sits in this House was speaking on behalf of the Government on the occasion of his speech in Munich. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we are unable to put down Questions on this subject to the noble Earl because he is not the senior Minister in the matter? I am talking about Lord Balniel. I am sorry that in my anxiety to see him in his proper place I provoked him. As we cannot question the noble Lord in this House, will the Prime Minister reorganise his Government's arrangements so that when the senior Minister in this House speaks on behalf of the Government, the Opposition can question that Minister, and are allowed to put down Questions to him?

The Prime Minister

If I may say so, that is a confused complex of questions. I understood that I was dealing with the speech made by my noble Friend the Minister of State when he was in Munich. My noble Friend is a Member of this House. If these Questions are put to him, whether they are accepted is a matter for Mr. Speaker and the Table Office, and not for me. I am being asked questions about it today. My noble Friend's speech is in the Library for all hon. Members who wish to read it to do so.

Mr. Onslow

Would my right hon. Friend agree that it would be much to the convenience of the House and of the country if the Leader of the Opposition could make it clear, when Members of the Shadow Cabinet make speeches, particularly on the subject of the Common Market, whether they are speaking on behalf of Her Majesty's Opposition?

The Prime Minister

That is a matter for the Leader of the Opposition to make clear, which no doubt he will do on Saturday.

Mr. George Thomson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that an important point of principle and procedure is raised by the noble Lord's speech? He is the senior Minister for Defence in this House, and we ought to be able to question the speeches that he makes, in Munich or elsewhere, just as much as we can question speeches by the Secretary of State for Defence. Will the right hon. Gentleman consider that aspect of it?

The Prime Minister

As I understand it, the eligibility of Questions on speeches made by my noble Friend is a matter for Mr. Speaker and the Table Office, and not for me. A copy of the speech has been made available in the Library in the usual way for all right hon. and hon. Members who wish to read it to do so. The procedure on Questions is not for me to settle, and my noble Friend has no desire to avoid any questions whatsoever on his speech at Munich.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Harold Wilson—Business Question.

Mr. Harold Wilson rose

—

Mr. McMaster

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the cowardly murder of two soldiers in Belfast within the last seven days, and the thousands of pounds worth of damage that has been done, would you consider allowing my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence to answer Question No. 25, which he was precluded from answering during Question time?

Mr. Speaker

I have had no such request. Mr. Wilson—Business Question.