§ 22. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make the minutes of the proceedings of the Commission available for inspection by hon. Members.
§ Mr. Arthur BottomleyNo, Sir.
§ Mr. PricePresumably you also authorised that answer, Mr. Speaker.
Could we not have just a little of that open government that we are always calling for from the Executive from the administration of this House? We realise that some matters concerning the staff should properly be kept in confidence, but could not the general decisions which affect all Members of the House, particularly the working of the Select Committee system, be made available so that we can see what, to some of us, seems to be the curious logic behind them?
§ Mr. BottomleyThe House of Commons Commission is ready and willing to answer questions and occasionally to make statements. But, as my hon. Friend said, the minutes sometimes concern personal and intimate matters relating to the staff, and the House has never agreed to the reporting of such proceedings. I see no reason to change that arrangement.
§ Mr. CormackHow often does the Commission meet?
§ Mr. BottomleyToo often, but we are trying to cut down on that.
§ Mr. EnglishSince one-third of public expenditure and about 1 million people are responsible to authorities which publish their minutes, could my right hon. Friend explain why the Commission cannot do as local authorities do, which are also executive authorities, instead of acting like Select Committees of the House which are not executive authorities? Surely our Officers are no more sensitive than those of every local authority in the land.
§ Mr. BottomleyI assure my hon. Friend that the Officers of the House are subjected by the Commission to interrogation of a very severe character.