§ 2.35 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT SAMUELMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government a question of which I have given private notice—namely, whether they can propose any general principles which should guide the action of members of your Lordships' House who are in the employ of State corporations, when matters affecting those corporations are under consideration.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DOMINION AFFAIRS (VISCOUNT ADDISON)My Lords, I have to thank the noble Viscount for giving me this opportunity of informing your Lordships generally of the conclusions which have been reached after consultation with the noble Viscount himself and with the noble Marquess, the Leader of the Conservative Opposition, who is unfortunately unable to be present to-day but whose assent to these views I have obtained. We are of the opinion that a member of your Lordships' House employed by a State corporation, or similar organization, is not thereby debarred from exercising his constitutional right of speech in this House, even when the subject under discussion affects the particular corporation in whose employment he is engaged. It might well arise, however, that a Peer so employed should entertain a view different from that of the corporation to which he belongs. In such case he might well think that the seemly course would be not to speak at all during the discussion in your Lordships' House; but the ultimate decision whether he should or should not speak is one for himself to take—it is his own responsibility.
Of course, we presume that a Peer engaged in the work of one of these cor- 374 porations will adhere to the accepted custom of your Lordships' House, and invariably make a disclosure of his personal interest when the business of his particular corporation is being debated, if he desires to intervene. Indeed, your Lordships may well look to a Peer so placed to give the House the benefit of his own informed opinion as an individual member. Finally, any question arising from such an expression of opinion must, we think, be a matter between the particular Peer and the corporation directly employing him, or even, it may be, the Minister immediately concerned with the business of that corporation. To sum up: in general, the view is that Peers holding positions in these corporations should not be prejudiced as members of this House from speaking according to their belief and good judgment—it being understood that they should inform the House of their personal interest in the matter under discussion.
§ VISCOUNT SAMUELI should like to thank the noble Viscount for the careful attention which he has given to this matter and for the expression of opinion which he has been good enough to deliver to the House, which I feel sure will meet with general agreement.
§ VISCOUNT SWINTONMy Lords, as the noble Marquess, the Leader of the Opposition, is unable to be present, I would like to say tit I feel sure that the views expressed by the noble Viscount, the Leader of the House, will meet with general approval, and I think it is very convenient that they have been so clearly stated.