§ 43. Mr. Canavanasked the Lord President of the Council what reforms of the parliamentary system he intends to introduce in order to improve parliamentary democracy.
§ Mr. FootI would suggest that the House should await the outcome of the major review being undertaken by the Select Committee on Procedure.
§ Mr. CanavanDoes my right hon. Friend agree that one of the biggest threats to parliamentary democracy is when a Member uses a party organisation to get himself a safe seat in this place and then betrays his party and his constituency by crossing the Floor of the House? In such circumstances, should not a Member be obliged to do the decent thing and resign his seat so that people in places such as Newham, North-East can be properly represented in this House?
§ Mr. FootIt is a matter of personal taste, but I think that right hon. and hon. Members who cross the Floor should certainly consider all the suggestions my hon. Friend has made. Indeed, I understand that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Prentice) himself took that view some years ago when another hon. Member crossed the Floor in the opposite direction.
§ Mr. DykesDoes not the Lord President agree that one of the important aspects of increasing the effectiveness of parliamentary democracy is by EEC scrutiny and to get really efficient, effective and constructive scrutiny in the future, which is even more important if and when direct elections take place? Does he not agree that intelligent use of the Committee upstairs which examines EEC instruments would be an important part of that improvement?
§ Mr. FootI think it is one of the ways in which scrutiny can be operated, but we will be discussing the whole of that question next Monday on a motion to be moved by my hon. Friend the Member 1096 for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) and we can examine all these matters more carefully then.