HC Deb 18 January 1988 vol 125 cc668-9
30. Mr. Allen

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make it his policy to review the operation of Select Committees at the end of the current Session; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Wakeham

Since the establishment of the present Select Committee system in 1979, the Liaison Committee has made periodic reports to the House on the operation of Select Committees. In so far as they are House bodies, this would seem to be the appropriate form of review.

Mr. Allen

Does the Leader of the House have any further comment to make, given that on Friday many of his colleagues were drawing attention to the ever-powerful Executive versus Parliament? Is he aware that the six-months delay in setting up Select Committees aided and abetted his colleagues on Friday in arguing for a stronger Parliament? Will he bring forward a report to ensure that the teeth of the Select Committees are sharpened so that we can hold the Government to account?

Mr. Wakeham

No, Sir. I have no proposals to bring forward a report. It is a matter that the Liaison Committee could consider, and we shall be interested in anything that it says.

Mr. Gow

Has my right hon. Friend considered the relationship between members of Select Committees and those of Standing Committees? Is my right hon. Friend aware that many hon. Members are members of Select Committees and of the two Standing Committees, which are all meeting at the same time?

Mr. Wakeham

I recognise that, from time to time, this causes considerable difficulties, and my admiration goes to those hon. Members who manage to do a great deal of work. This is more a matter for the Committee of Selection than for me.

Mr. Wigley

The difficulties that have been experienced in the past six months could have been avoided if the Select Committees on Scottish Affairs in particular, and that on Welsh Affairs, had reflected a balance of membership from Scotland and Wales, and not from the balance of the House. As reports must eventually come to the Floor of the House, cannot the House be flexible enough to adopt that approach?

Mr. Wakeham

I am all for flexibility in these matters, but unless Select Committees reflect the broad balance of opinion within the House they will not be acceptable to it. I believe that that is the right principle for all Select Committees.