HC Deb 17 March 1997 vol 292 cc612-3
4. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about appointment to quangos in Wales during 1996. [18831]

Mr. Hague

My Department has received several representations.

Mr. Jones

Does the Secretary of State acknowledge that one of the most miserable and disreputable aspects of the Conservative Government in the past 18 years has been the way in which they have appointed their friends to run quangos in Wales? What could be more damaging to the cause of democracy than for Members of Parliament rejected by the electorate to be appointed to run the health service and represent the interests of consumers in Wales? With one or two notable exceptions, does he not realise that all he and his friends have done is further the cause of the Conservative party in Wales? We deserve a far better system of government and we shall vote for it on 1 May.

Mr. Hague

After the question by the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) earlier, I thought that it was impossible to hear more rubbish in one question time. However, we have now heard more from the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Mr. Jones) who says that we have filled boards with political friends of the Conservative party. Lord Elis-Thomas does a good job for the Welsh Language Board and he was appointed by the Conservative Government. I have recently appointed to the WDA board Councillor Noel Crowley of Neath and Port Talbot, who is a leading member of the Labour party in Wales. There is also George Wright, who is a leading representative of the trade unions in Wales. Those people sit on those bodies because we select people for them on merit—and that is how it should be.

Mr. Hanson

Will the Secretary of State confirm that the recent group of people that he appointed to monitor appointments to quangos were themselves appointed without any advertisements being placed—on his say-so only? Is it satisfactory to have a quango monitoring appointments to quangos? Would it not be far better to have an elected assembly monitoring the performance of quangos?

Mr. Hague

What we have under the new arrangements is an independent element in the selection of people for public office. If the hon. Gentleman or anybody else suggests people for those lists, they would of course be considered. The idea that better appointments would be made because there was a room full of people in an assembly arguing about it, and claiming a fat expense account for doing so, is absolutely ludicrous.

Mr. Bernard Jenkin

I invite my right hon. Friend to reflect on the irony that many Opposition Members who campaigned vigorously against quangos want to hand their country over to the ultimate quango—the European Commission in Brussels.

Mr. Hague

My hon. Friend raises an important issue. It is the Labour party's policy to sign away—no doubt it would do it at the Amsterdam summit if it had the chance—and get rid of the British veto on social policy, regional policy, industrial policy and environmental policy. That is not a policy that will win the support of the British people.