§ 37. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what conditions on expenditure the Commission lays down for Select Committees travelling within the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Arthur BottomleyThe Commission has recently decided that Select Committees may not incur expenditure for the holding of purely deliberative meetings outside Westminster without the express approval of the Commission. For other visits within the United Kingdom no formal conditions have needed to be imposed by the Commission.
§ Mr. PriceI thank my right hon. Friend for that lucid reply. Is he aware that the Select Committee on education, science and arts is grateful for the Commission's recent permission to deliberate outside the Houe of Commons, because there is a danger that Select Committees spend so much time gathering evidence that they have no time to think about it? Is he further aware that this sensible innovation should be allowed to develop and not be stopped by the Commission?
§ Mr. BottomleyI thank my hon. Friend for his kind comments about the work of the Commission. The amount of money in the Estimates limits the expenditure. It would be unfair if, in the main, we did not ensure that money was spent on enabling Committees to go outside the House only for the purpose of hearing witnesses.
§ Mr. StokesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some hon. Members are getting concerned about the proliferation and pretensions of some Select Committees and consider that their travelling should be kept to a minimum?
§ Mr. BottomleyIf Select Committees are to do their duty—I hope that they can—this will necessarily entail more expenditure.