HL Deb 23 March 1965 vol 264 cc497-8

2.37 p.m.

THE EARL OF ARRAN

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government the membership and functions of the Committee commonly known as the Maecenas Committee.]

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, it has never been the practice to answer questions about the information which a Prime Minister takes into account in giving the Sovereign any advice he chooses to give on the question of honours.

THE EARL OF ARRAN

My Lords, while thanking the noble and learned Lord for his information, I would ask, is it not a fact that this Committee consists of, among others, intellectuals and representatives of the arts, and would Her Majesty's Government not agree that since such folk are not always entirely objective in their judgments of one another it is desirable that the names of those sitting on this particular Committee should be generally known?

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, the Prime Minister is solely responsible for the advice which he chooses to give to the Sovereign, and the Government does not propose to depart from the precedent of its predecessors in declining to give information as to how he arrives at his opinion.