HC Deb 11 November 1975 vol 899 cc1134-5
Q2. Mr. Grocott

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Burntwood.

The Prime Minister

I have at present no plans to do so, Sir.

Mr. Grocott

If my right hon. Friend could arrange his programme so as to be able to visit the highly successful Labour-controlled local authority in Burntwood, would he note that, first as a parish council and then as a town council, it managed quite well without the aldermanic system? Does he not agree that, now that we have largely abolished that undemocratic system in local government, we should turn our attention to getting rid of the undemocratic part of central Government and abolish the House of Lords?

The Prime Minister

I visited my hon. Friend's constituency in the days when Lord Burntwood was a Member. I am sure that my hon. Friend was casting no reflection on our noble Friend. As for the reform of another place, if my hon. Friend will study the proceedings in this House on the Parliament (No. 2) Bill, in 1968 and 1969, he will find that there was a wide variety of views expressed by right hon. and hon. Members, by no means representing the normal political divisions of the House, not to mention the creation of some strange alliances across the Floor.