HC Deb 15 March 1973 vol 852 cc1496-7
Mr. George Cunningham

May I raise with you, Mr. Speaker, a point of order of some significance in relation to the admissibility of a certain type of Question to the Prime Minister, and ask you to give a ruling upon it upon another day?

My point of order arises from reports in The Times and other newspapers today of the speech by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster yesterday to the European Parliament. It is reliably reported that the right hon. Gentleman admitted publicly that he had amended his speech in order to take account of the views of other members of the Council of Ministers of the European Community.

There is a rule of this House, as you will be aware, that Members are not allowed to ask the Prime Minister whether a speech made abroad by a Minister represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government because it is presumed—and until now it has been a fair presumption—that when a Minister speaks abroad he speaks the policy of Her Majesty's Government. It is plain that yesterday the Chancellor of the Duchy was not doing so and that it is highly likely that in future we shall not know whether a Minister speaking in Brussels especially is expressing the view of Her Majesty's Government or that of the Council of Ministers, whether he is speaking on behalf of Her Majesty's Government or that of the Council of Ministers.

In this new situation, ought not the rule to be changed so that it becomes possible to ask the Prime Minister whether a Minister speaking in a European context abroad is speaking on behalf of Her Majesty's Government or on behalf of the Council of Ministers?

Mr. Robert Hughes

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I ask you to consider another point at the same time? I understand that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster can be questioned only about his specific responsibilities as Chancellor of the Duchy and that Members cannot put down Questions about his responsibilities in the European Parliament or in the EEC. It seems that we are debarred from raising with the right hon. Gentleman points such as those referred to by my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South-West (Mr. George Cunningham).

Mr. Maclennan

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. In giving consideration to these matters, will you bear in mind the possibility that occasionally, albeit perhaps infrequently, Her Majesty's Ministers may, in expressing their own policy views, be expressing the views of other Ministers in the EEC?

Mr. Speaker

I shall consider these interesting points and give what guidance OT ruling I can.