§ Q1. Mr. Ridleyasked the Prime Minister if he intends to abolish the House of Lords.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. James Callaghan)I shall be ready to consider any proposals to this end that the hon. Gentleman cares to put to me.
§ Mr. RidleyThe Prime Minister has not answered the Question. Does he intend to abolish the House of Lords? As two of his Cabinet Ministers and his Patronage Secretary voted to do so on 16th June, under the doctrine of ministerial responsibility when will they be parting company?
§ The Prime MinisterI congratulate the Patronage Secretary on his vote. I wish that I had been here. I might have joined him. I have never felt that the House of Lords was truly representative of the fine flower of democracy in Britain, but having attempted to pluck it once, in 1968, I found that it stung, rather, and I should be pretty careful before putting my hand there again.
§ Mr. MacFarquharWhatever my right hon. Friend's views, and my views, on the House of Lords as it is presently composed, does he believe that there is any place for a second Chamber in our constitution?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is an interesting academic question. [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer it.") I am trying to work it out. I believe that there is a place for a second Chamber, given the history of this country, although many countries get on very well without one. I do not think that there is any theoretical verdict one way or the other.
§ Mr. StokesIs the Prime Minister aware that the House of Lords is extremely popular, is a bulwark against arbitrary one-Chamber government, and is a vital part of the British constitution?
§ The Prime MinisterI thank the hon. Gentleman and congratulate him upon his sterling qualities and the way in which he stands up for the other Chamber—something that could be done only by an excess of patriotism, but perhaps with rather less than his usual amount of perspicacity.