HC Deb 15 May 1978 vol 950 cc26-7
28. Mr. Canavan

asked the Lord President of the Council what recent representations he has received about amendments which have been made to the Scotland Bill in the House of Commons and in the House of Lords; and what action he intends to take.

The Minister of State, Privy Council Office (Mr. John Smith)

There have been a number of recent representations on the matters referred to by my hon. Friend. This House will, of course, have a further opportunity to consider amendments made in another place.

Mr. Canavan

Will the Government do everything possible to repair the damage done to the Scotland Bill by the political vandals in the House of Lords who clearly are voting fodder for the backwoodsmen who were congregating in Perth last week? In view of the previous declaration of Perth when the Tories promised a Scottish Assembly, is it not now clear that the right hon. Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Prentice) was not the only renegade in Perth last week?

Mr. Smith

I assure my hon. Friend that the Government remain fully committed to the content of the Scotland Bill. We shall review the situation when another place has finished its consideration of it.

Regarding events at Perth, the topsy-turvy attitude of the Conservative Party on devolution is one of the most remarkable somersaults in British politics. Another matter that was most entertaining was the view put forward by the right hon. Member for Cambridgeshire (Mr. Pym), who seems to think that regional variations in the referendum result will be of some relevance.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

Regarding events at Perth, the Minister's comments on them and his confidence in the Bill and the stage that it has reached, does the hon. Gentleman agree that if the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) believes that the House of Lords is making a mess of the Bill the matter can be tested when it comes back to this House by there being a free vote on its final consideration?

Mr. Smith

It seems odd that a spokesman for the Conservative Party should ask for a free vote on a matter on which for a number of years it did not allow anyone who took a contrary view to speak at its conferences. Indeed, the Opposition are tightening up. The hon. Member for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith) was on two occasions denied the right to speak at a Conservative Party conference because he disagreed with the official line. The hon. Gentleman knows that that is so.

I think that the hon. Gentleman when reflecting on events at Perth, might reflect on the fact that in 1968 the Conservative Party promised devolution and that it has now totally reneged on it. I am happy about that situation, because it means that only the Labour and Liberal Parties are committed to devolution. Therefore, we shall obtain the support of the people.

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