HC Deb 17 December 1973 vol 866 cc950-1
48. Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is aware that Members attending the European Assembly are paid, in addition to their £25 a day attendance allowance, a £10 travel allowance in excess of their actual costs incurred; and whether he will propose that all Members should be paid on this basis.

Mr. Prior

The rates of travel allowances for attendance at the European Assembly are a matter for that Assembly. I understand, however, that this allowance is based on the distance travelled.

Mr. Lewis

Will the right hon. Gentleman investigate a report in the Observer yesterday that a group of City financiers and bankers were addressed by the Secretary of State for Defence in order to raise money from the banking houses in the City to pay the expenses of Tory Ministers and Tory back-benchers who go to the European Assembly? If that is true—and the report says that Government facilities were provided—many of us on this side of the House think it disgraceful that City financiers should have been called together and asked to pay the expenses of a selected few Members who are getting per day, tax free, more than the miners get in a week.

Mr. Prior

It would be much more appropriate if hon. Members on both sides of the House went to the European Assembly and their expenses were properly covered from this House.

Mr. Skinner

Is the Minister aware that when these City people met last week and were addressed by the Secretary of State for Defence on the question of raising funds to assist those Conservative, Liberal and other assorted Members of Parliament who attend the European Assembly—

Mr. Pardoe

Withdraw.

Mr. Skinner

—it was argued that the money was needed because the Labour Members of Parliament were boycotting that Assembly? I ask the Minister, and you, Mr. Speaker, whether that is a breach of privilege.

Mr. Speaker

If the hon. Member wishes to raise a matter of privilege, he must do it at the proper time and in the proper way.

Mr. Prior

Perhaps I should start by congratulating the right hon. Gentleman on his new Parliamentary Private Secretary. I gather that, as usual, the hon. Gentleman has not got his facts right.

Later—

Mr. Skinner

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not the convention to introduce questions on breach of privilege immediately they are discovered or made clear to Members of Parliament?

Mr. Speaker

Order. May I help the hon. Member? If he wishes to raise a matter of privilege, he may do so after the statement.