LUXEMBOURG (Hansard, 23 May 1974)

§ Q3. Mr. Skinner
asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to pay an official visit to Luxembourg.

§ The Prime Minister
I have at present no plans to do so, Sir.

§ Mr. Skinner
In this age of registration may I ask my right hon. Friend, if he cannot get to Luxembourg, to send for a copy of the Luxembourg register to establish, each month, whether any money is drawn by Tories and Liberals who are members of the European Assembly by way of payments made at the end of each plenary session? Perhaps he will establish from President Berkhouwer, who instituted the inquiry, how many people were involved, the allegations that arise 594 therefrom—[HON. MEMBERS: "Too long."] Will he, finally—

§ Mr. Dykes
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. With respect, why is the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) allowed to ask questions which are longer than those which other hon. Members are allowed to ask?

§ Mr. Speaker
This is a matter for me. Interruptions from the other side of the House merely prolong the question. Nevertheless, the hon. Gentleman has said "finally" and I hope that he means it.

§ Mr. Skinner
Finally, may I ask my right hon. Friend not to give me the type of answer I have been receiving on this matter from the Minister of State, to the effect that there has not been any scandal, when the pro-Market "Top People's" paper has been reporting the facts at some length?

§ The Prime Minister
I have not seen any suggestion that Opposition Members have been involved in the problems to which the President of the Assembly drew attention. Indeed, I seem to recollect the President's saying that he was not referring to anyone from the United Kingdom. Attendance allowances are paid in accordance with the rules of the Assembly. They are paid out of Community funds. If my hon. Friend, or any other hon. Member, has any idea that money which ultimately, in part, comes from this country is being abused I hope that they will let me or my right hon. Friend have the evidence. Certainly, if my hon. Friend has any idea that any hon. Members of this House are doing this I am sure he will bring such evidence as he may have to the appropriate authority in the House.

§ Mr. Tapsell
Does the right hon. Gentleman not feel that the time has now come in the lifetime of this Parliament when he should use the moral authority which attaches to his high office to bring to an end the endless muck-raking which has become a symptom of this Parliament?

§ The Prime Minister
I tried to do so in the speech I made in Glasgow a week last Sunday—a speech which was the subject of many Questions this Tuesday. I would not say that I was 100 per cent, successful.

§ Mr. Heath
Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in that speech he tried to associate the affair of which he disapproves, quite rightly, with one side of the House? Is he aware that we welcome the fact that he has now repudiated muck-raking from his own side?

§ The Prime Minister
The question was put to me and I asked for evidence. The same would apply to any hon. Member of the House on any issue where there is a suspicion that people have behaved improperly, whether in local or national government. They should give their evidence to the appropriate authorities— the authorities of this House, the Government, the Leader of the Opposition, or the police, wherever there has been an allegation of corruption.