HC Deb 03 April 1978 vol 947 cc27-9
33. Mr. Adley

asked the Lord President of the Council what plans he has for amending the relationship between Select Committees and the Government.

37. Sir Bernard Braine

asked the Lord President of the Council what is his policy towards the more effective use of Select Committees, and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Foot

This is a matter now being considered by the Select Committee on Procedure, and the Government will naturally give full consideration to this report when it appears.

Mr. Adley

Reverting to the comments that the Lord President made just now, may I ask whether he agrees that issues like steel and immigration are matters of party political difference and bear no relation to the personal Select Committee report that he mentioned? In view of that, does he not believe that Governments will be wise to concede that in future, if there is a unanimous report of a Select Committee on an issue of national importance, there should automatically be a debate in Government time within three months of publication of the report, and that at the end of the debate the Whips should be withdrawn and there should be a free vote in the House?

Mr. Foot

I do not believe that that proposition should be automatically accepted. When the House considers the full question of the operation of Select Committees in future, it will agree that this is a matter of great importance for the future of the House as a whole. I do not believe that all hon. Members will jump to the conclusions that the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) has reached. We should await the report of the Committee which is examining the matter at length and then debate it.

Sir B. Braine

I agree with the Lord President that we could await the Select Committee report on the structure of Select Committees, but does he not agree that an effective Select Committee system is much needed in order to improve the efficiency and working of Parliament so that it can check the miscalculations and follies of Governments and civil servants? Will he not at least ensure that Select Committee reports are debated on the Floor of the House while the subject matter is still topical and fresh in the minds of hon. Members?

Mr. Foot

That course is highly desirable when there are such matters and that is what we seek to do when we can. However, I can think of no Government that would undertake that they would always arrange debates within a certain period. It would not be for the convenience of the House for that to occur. Members of Select Committees should also bear in mind that other hon. Members also have rights which must be preserved as well as the rights of those who serve on Select Committees.

Mr. Hooley

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the fact that recent Select Committee reports have given rise to great controversy is a matter for satisfaction rather than otherwise? Does he also agree that there should be some arrangement for minority reports or notes of dissent by members of a Select Committee if they strongly differ from the majority view?

Mr. Foot

I understand that any minority on a Committee can insist on having a minority report. That right must obviously be preserved.