HC Deb 16 July 1971 vol 821 cc995-6

Motion made, and Question proposed, That Standing Order No. 69 (Scottish Standing Committees) be amended, as follows : Line 7, leave out from beginning to 'Committee' in line 14 and insert 'Each such'.—[Mr. Whitelaw.]

3.58 p.m.

Mr. Tam Dalyell (West Lothian)

Object.

Mr. Hugh D. Brown (Glasgow, Provan)

On a point of order. Is no explanation to be given by the Leader of the House as to the purpose and significance of what he is doing by this Motion?

The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. William Whitelaw)

Certainly. It is to bring the Scottish Standing Committees into line with the English ones.

Mr. Brown

Further to that point of order. I am sorry, but this just does not make sense to me. The Scottish Standing Committees—

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Robert Grant-Ferris)

This is not a point of order, but the hon. Member may make a speech if he wants to.

Mr. Brown

I am not too clear what the purpose of this Motion is. I do not want to be obstructive, but I think the Leader of the House should give some reason why this change is being made.

Mr. Dalyell

We have had very little notice of this. I do not automatically think that there is something sinister about it, but it does look as if it is to suit the convenience of the Government to have much smaller Scottish Committees and so not to impose a burden on English Members. I may be wrong about this, but so far as I know there has been no consultation about it, and till such time as there has been consultation I think some of us would like to examine it.

Mr. Charles Loughlin (Gloucestershire, West)

I feel some hesitation at intervening because this is not an English matter but something peculiar to Scottish Members in that it is about Scottish Standing Committees, but I should like some guidance because it is nearly four o'clock and the only way in which this matter can be dealt with, apparently, is on the basis of somebody discussing it to keep the debate going till after four o'clock. Perhaps the Leader of the House will give the information that has been requested of him to the Scottish Members. A degree of concern has been expressed to me by some Scottish Members on this. They wonder why the proposal has been forthcoming in this way. There has been a suggestion that one of the difficulties which the Government are faced with—

It being Four o'clock, the debate stood adjourned.

Debate to be resumed upon Monday next.