HC Deb 18 July 1988 vol 137 c788
28. Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Lord President of the Council what proposals he has for reviewing the work of the Select Committees.

Mr. Wakeham

I have no present proposals for any such review.

Mr. Dalyell

If a Government want to bury an inconvenient Select Committee report, what better than to have it published in the fourth week of July, preferably to coincide with a royal wedding or tercentencary celebrations? Now that we have a 10-minute rule for speeches, would it not be a good idea to debate each Select Committee report for at least half a day on the 10-minute basis for speeches? Would that not give some added point to the hard work that colleagues of all parties do in Select Committees?

Mr. Wakeham

I do not accept that any Select Committee report that the hon. Gentleman finds interesting has been buried as a result of any Government activities. He should know that that is not the case. All Select Committee reports are available for comment. It is a matter for the Select Committee on Procedure, in the first instance, to consider whether arrangements for debating Select Committee reports could be changed.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I shall take the application under Standing Order No. 20 first.