HC Deb 09 November 1976 vol 919 cc210-2
Q2. Mr. Canavan

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretaries of State for Trade, Industry and Scotland in implementing the economic proposals in the Queen's Speech.

The Prime Minister

Yes.

Mr. Canavan

As one of the major implementing the proposals in the Queen's Speech is the House of Lords, will my right hon. Friend take steps to include in the next Queen's Speech proposals to abolish once and for all this motley collection of medieval barons, political has-beens, ex-Prime Ministers' lap-dogs and ex-Labour renegades who had the cheek to vote against the Third Reading of a Socialist Bill yesterday?

The Prime Minister

It is quite clear from what has been said and written that, time after time after time, there has been a conspiracy between the Conservative Front Bench in this House and the inbuilt Conservative majority in the House of Lords to defeat legislation that has passed through the House of Commons. We have seen this with legislation on education, which was considered for 160 hours; on tied cottages, which was considered for 64 hours; on health, which was considered for 88 hours; on dock work regulation, which was considered for 140 hours, and on aircraft and shipbuilding nationalisation which was considered for no less than 256 hours. Opposition Members are conspiring with the House of Lords to defeat this legislation, and I warn the House of Lords of the consequences.

Mr. Lawson

Does the Prime Minister realise that the constitutional support of the House of Lords is a great deal less dishonourable than the support of the hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Mr. Maguire)—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. [Interruption.] Order. Hon. Gentlemen must give me a chance. The hon. Gentleman will withdraw, I hope—[Interruption.] We are all hon. Members of this House and the hon. Gentleman will withdraw any suggestion that a Member is not an honourable man.

Mr. Lawson

If you wish me to withdraw anything, Mr. Speaker, I shall certainly do so.

The Prime Minister

I am not surprised that the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Lawson) withdrew his remarks. I thought that he would do so. It is our strong view that the House of Lords should recall that its rôle is not that of a wrecking chamber, but of a revising chamber. In recent weeks, it has been wrecking legislation passed by this House.

Mr. Cormack

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it in order for the Prime Minister to make accusations of conspiracy? When hon. Members in both Houses are honourably doing their duty, it is in order for the Prime Minister to impute dishonourable motives to them? Will you ask him to withdraw?

Mr. Ioan Evans

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Prime Minister has made accusations about the Opposition Front Bench and apparently they do not wish to deny them. If they wish to deny what my right hon. Friend said, they should get up and do so.

Mr. Speaker

It seems that all the excitement I expected yesterday has been postponed. From time to time, general political charges are hurled across the Chamber by both sides. There was nothing in what the Prime Minister said which I could ask him to withdrawn.