§ 34. Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the work of the Privy Council Office. [27633]
§ Mr. NewtonThe Privy Council Office acts as the secretariat to the Privy Council. Among other things, it considers applications for the granting or amendment of royal charters, scrutinises changes in the byelaws or statutes of chartered institutions and in the governing instruments of universities and colleges, and arranges a variety of Crown and Privy Council appointments. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is serviced by the Department, which also contains the central drugs co-ordinations unit.
§ Mr. MackinlayWill the Lord President reflect on the fact that, had the Halifax summit occurred any time after the third week of July and before the third week of October, there would have been no statement in this House of Commons? If the BMARC affair had cropped up in that time, there would have been no debate here. Is it not time that this Parliament provided, at least in the first or second week of September, a period when we could have statements from Ministers and could probe the Executive? How is it that I can table parliamentary 20 questions in January, February and March but cannot get replies in July, August, September or October? It is time this Parliament had proper sittings in the autumn to allow for proper scrutiny.
§ Mr. NewtonThe hon. Gentleman's question is all very interesting, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the one that I was asked.