HC Deb 14 April 1980 vol 982 cc785-7
34. Mr. David Price

asked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bottomley), as representing the House of Commons Commission, whether, in considering applications for travel by Select Committees, the Commission will treat travel within European Economic Community as domestic, rather than overseas, travel.

35. Mr. Hooley

asked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bottomley), as representing the House of Commons Commission, what finance will be made available to the Select Committees of the House during 1980–81 to enable them to discharge the duties that the House has entrusted to them.

Mr. Arthur Bottomley

These matters are still under consideration by the Commission, in consultation with the Liaison Committee.

Mr. Price

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that most helpful answer. Will he and his colleagues bear in mind that it is both acceptable and necessary that our new Select Committees should be given budgets within which it is reasonable to expect that they should work? It is both unnecessary and unacceptable that distinction should be made as to travel between various parts of the United Kingdom and various parts of the EEC. Whether hon. Members like it or not, we are members of the European Community, and therefore we are as entitled—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman was called to ask a question. He is now giving information. Perhaps he would come to a conclusion.

Mr. Price

I was asking the right hon. Gentleman whether he and his colleagues on the Commission had taken these important facts on board.

Mr. Bottomley

I am sure that you, Mr. Speaker, and the other Commissioners present, will have noted the point. Consideration will be given to the views of the hon. Member.

Mr. Hooley

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the creation of a powerful and coherent Select Committee system is one of the most important reforms that the House has carried out in the past few decades? Will he, give an assurance that the Committee system will be properly financed, and that we shall not in future have any silly squabbles between the House of Commons Commission and the Liaison Committee about the finances necessary for the work of the Select Committees?

Mr. Bottomley

I shall bring the views of my hon. Friend to the notice of the Commission.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Will the right hon. Gentleman encourage the Commission to arrive at a speedy conclusion on the matter of foreign travel? Is he aware that the Foreign Affairs Committee has in mind some modest examination of matters overseas, and requires to arrive at decisions fairly early in order to do its job?

Mr. Bottomley

There is no need to stress the importance of that matter to me, as a past Commonwealth Secretary. Note will be made of the matter.

Mr. Freud

As it appears to be current policy for hon. Members to travel in luxury and then to exist as paupers, might the reverse be allowed to occur, if an hon. Member so desires?