HC Deb 11 July 1974 vol 876 cc1543-4
Q2. Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list committees of the Cabinet of which he has taken the chair since 18th June 1974.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Mr. Latham

I am grateful for that reply in the light of the information the right hon. Gentleman gave to the House on 18th June. In view of recent opinion polls, will he say whether he expects to take the chair at routine Cabinet committee meetings between 20th September and 20th October?

The Prime Minister

That does not seem to arise very much out of the Question but I welcome the spirit in which it was put. It has not been the practice in most cases to say who chairs individual Cabinet committees or who are their members. In view of certain things that were being said at that time, I thought it right to make the position clear. There was a widespread view, much fostered by certain sections of the Press and by a certain amount of gossip in the City, that certain documents which had been issued, not on the authority of the Government but outside by the party organisation, mainly deriving from last year, represented Government policy. I was attempting to make clear that Government policy was being decided and that policy will be decided and announced.

Mr. Thorpe

Will the Prime Minister confirm that the Patronage Secretary is now a full member of the Cabinet, on which we would like to congratulate him? On those rare occasions when Cabinet views differ on any issue, will the right hon. Gentleman be put in charge of taking an opinion poll among Cabinet committee members?

The Prime Minister

The congratulations may be premature but I shall look at what the right hon. Gentleman said, particularly as I see that he has his "migraine" sitting beside him.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Hal Miller, Question No. Q3.

Mr. Thorpe

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

Will the right hon. Gentleman raise his point of order at the end of Question Time?

Later—

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Thorpe. Point of order.

Mr. Thorpe

After consideration, Mr. Speaker, I have decided to pursue the matter in other ways.