§ 31. Mr. van Straubenzeeasked the Lord President of the Council what proposals he has for the publication of the Register of Members' Interests.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeDoes not the Lord President recall that, in reporting to the House as long ago as December 1976, he said that the status of the publication of the Register of Members' Interests was severely jeopardised by the action of the right hon. Member for Down, South (Mr. Powell) in not conforming with the arrangements that were agreed to by the rest of us? The Lord President himself, in answering me in August last year, said that he hoped to make progress with an early report. When can we expect some firmer action from him?
§ Mr. FootI have had a considerable exchange of letters with the hon. Member on this matter and with some other hon. Members. However, not very many hon. Members have raised it with me. I believe that the recommendation of the Select Committee for dealing with this question is not a remedy which would assist the House, and for that reason I 26 have not come forward with any recommendations. I think that, on reflection, the House will reach the same conclusion.
§ Mr. MaddenWill the Lord President confirm that the Register of Members' Interests is kept up to date and is available for inspection in the Clerk's Office upstairs? If the register is to be effective, does he not agree that considerable changes need to be made? For example, any fees drawn by MPs as directors or consultants should be shown, and share disclosure should be toughened up.
§ Mr. FootWhether we should alter the instructions given by the House to the Select Committee is another question. The hon. Member for Woking (Mr. van Straubenzee) was raising a particular question relating to the last motion put on the Order Paper from the Select Committee. The question about any proposals for widening the matter would have to be considered generally.