§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Edward Short)I have been asked to reply.
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 11th November to the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mrs. Ewing).—[Vol. 881, c. 34.]
§ Mr. RostIn the next Prime Minister's Honours List will the first "Clay Cross" be awarded to the Attorney-General or the Leader of the House?
§ Mr. SkinnerIf my right hon. Friend does have discussions with the Law Officers, will he ask them to explain why the Attorney-General has not answered my letter about what I consider to be a breach of election law regarding the use of the Court Line plane "Halcyon Days" by the Leader of the Opposition in the February election? Is my right hon. Friend aware that the time limit of 35 days for payment of expenses was exceeded by approximately six months? Since the Attorney-General is taking a considerable time to answer me, will my right hon. Friend ask for an urgent investigation to see what is taking place?
§ Mr. ShortI shall certainly ask my right hon. and learned Friend whether he is in a position to answer my hon. Friend's letter.
§ Sir P. BryanWhy has the right hon. Gentleman still made no arrangements for the Attorney-General to explain to the House how he reconciles his advice against the reprieve of the Clay Cross councillors with the course taken by the Government?
§ Mr. ShortThe letter to which the hon. Gentleman refers was not addressed to the Government, and there is no ministerial responsibility for it.