§ 2.35 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT SAMUELMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask the Leader of the House whether he has considered possible procedure for enabling this House to review the statutory provisions governing the relationship between Parliament and the nationalised industries, particularly in so far as concerns the communication to Parliament of information respecting those industries; and whether, in view of the fact that a Select Committee of the House of Commons has considered this question as affecting that House, he has any proposal to make with respect to this House.]
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, since the noble Viscount tabled this Question, both he and the House will have noted that there has been a debate in another place on the subject with which his Question deals. We shall, I have no doubt, need some little time in which to study what was said in that debate, but I can say now that I certainly think this House also should consider the problem and possible methods of regulating the relationship of this House with these industries. At the moment, I am not sure whether our best course would be first to have a debate on the subject, from which the general feeling of the House might become apparent, or whether we should set up forthwith a Select Committee of our own to consider these matters. Perhaps I might consult with the noble Viscount and the Leader of the Opposition, and others interested, and report again to the House a little later.
§ VISCOUNT SAMUELMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Marquess for his reply. I shall be happy to enter into consultation as he has suggested. I assume that the Select Committee which he now contemplates is not a permanent Select Committee, such as has been advocated in another place, but is really a Select Committee to decide whether we should have such a Select Committee.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYThe noble Viscount has it exactly right. I am not suggesting, at this stage, a permanent Select Committee.
VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGHMy Lords, in view of what the Leader of the House has said, that there is to be consultation through the usual channels, I think we might leave the matter there for the time being, although I am quite sure that, in considering the relationship of your Lordships' House to this matter, we must take into consideration that there is strong opposition outside about the course proposed.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYWe shall have to consider everything outside and inside. The only object is to get some course of action which is acceptable to noble Lords in every part of the House.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEThe terms of reference will no doubt come before this House.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYThe terms of reference of the Select Committee will certainly come before this House. The first thing is to get, if we can, consultations between the noble Viscount, Lord Alexander of Hillsborough, the noble Viscount, Lord Samuel, and myself.