§ 43. Mr. AltonTo ask the Lord President of the Council what steps he is taking to speed up the nomination of Select Committees.
§ Mr. NewtonWe are making good progress with the setting up of Select Committees with, for example, the Public Accounts Committee, the European Scrutiny Committee and the four domestic Committees already reconstituted. I hope that we shall have the remainder of the Committees—that is, the departmental Committees—in place after tomorrow's debate on the motion that I have tabled in that respect.
§ Mr. AltonI welcome that news, but can the right hon. Gentleman confirm that nominations for the departmental Select Committees will be placed before the Committee of 580 Selection on Wednesday and that the most senior members of those Committees can then convene meetings, so that the Committees can meet at least before the House rises for the summer recess?
§ Mr. NewtonMy understanding is that the usual way of proceeding after nominations by the Committee of Selection is that the senior members call meetings—but the timing of the recommendations by the Committee of Selection is a matter not for me but for the Committee.