HC Deb 06 December 1976 vol 922 cc24-5
29. Mr. Tim Renton

asked the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to introduce legislation for devolution to the English regions.

Mr. John Smith

A consultative document will be published on 9th December seeking views on whether there is a need for change in Government arrangements in England, and what form this might take.

Mr. Renton

Will the hon. Gentleman ask the Lord President of the Council to assure us that he will find time for the White Paper to be debated in the House during the debates on the devolution Bill? If the Minister accepts the principle that for the United Kingdom to remain united each part of the kingdom must be treated equally, is it not very important that they should be debated simultaneously?

Mr. Smith

The consultative document will be available before next week's debate on the Scotland and Wales Bill. I have no doubt that it will be in order for hon. Members then to refer to the consultative document and any matter affecting England which our proposals throw up. I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House will take into account the hon. Gentleman's representations about having a separate debate.

Mr. John Ellis

Does not my hon. Friend realise that we are getting into a devil of a mess with all this legislation? Looming over us is the question of direct elections to the European Parliament by 1978. How will we find time for all these matters? Perhaps in the interests of sanity we should at least drop that proposal, for I am becoming increasingly sure that one of the reasons for manifestations of nationalism is the fact that people are resorting to this form of protest because they are overwhelmed by Governments of all shapes and sizes introducing legislation on all these matters.

Mr. Smith

My hon. Friend has raised matters which are not within my responsibility. The devolution proposals are, in essence, very much a way of strengthening the United Kingdom, not of appeasing nationalists.