HC Deb 12 April 1973 vol 854 cc1504-5
Q5. Mr. Loughlin

asked the Prime Minister if, in the light of his answer to the hon. Member for Gloucestershire, West on Tuesday 27th March 1973, he will now seek to arrange to apply his guidance notes now applicable to Ministers in Her Majesty's Government to all persons engaged in public life, including Members of Parliament and, in particular, members of planning authorities.

The Prime Minister

These matters are kept under review but I have nothing to add at present to what the House has previously been told by my right hon. Friends the Lord President and the Minister for Local Government and Development. Any proposals which the Government may make for changes in the rules for particular classes of people in public life will take account of the different circumstances in each case.

Mr. Loughlin

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, but will he accept that, especially in recent months, we have witnessed growing concern about the opportunities for graft and corruption among people in all aspects of public life, including even Members of Parliament—I do not exonerate us—but specifically in planning authorities, where local authority members are major shareholders in or directors of land and housing development companies? Will the Prime Minister re-examine this matter, so that we may rid from the public mind any suspicion about graft and corruption in public life?

The Prime Minister

I have been considering this question very carefully. It is not a matter of reconsidering it. It is kept continuously under review. I have answered a Question and set out clearly the position with regard to Ministers. As for hon. Members, this is a matter which has been engaging the attention of both sides of the House, and I know that my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House has been involved in the discussions. On the much wider questions which the hon. Gentleman raises, he knows that at the moment inquiries are being made by the Director of Public Prosecutions into some allegations which have naturally caused anxiety in the country. I think that it would be appropriate to await the outcome of those inquiries before taking further action. I told the House in the original circumstances that I did not exclude the possibility of a further inquiry should the need be shown after the DPP's inquiries have been made.

Mr. William Hamilton

Does the Prime Minister recognise that there is a good deal of disquiet in Scotland about recent appointments to property development and land speculation companies of people who were previously engaged by the Highlands and Islands Development Board? Will he consider the application to such people of the rules that apply to senior civil servants taking jobs within two years of retirement from the service?

The Prime Minister

This matter is under consideration. I think that the hon. Gentleman will recognise that the relationship of public and independent bodies, such as the nationalised industries and the Highlands and Islands Development Board, is different from that of the Civil Service to the Government or of Ministers or, indeed, of this House. However, it is a matter to which I am giving consideration.