HL Deb 13 December 1973 vol 347 cc1273-4

3.6 p.m.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

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 whether it is Government policy, when reports are made by official Consultative Committees and Councils, and Users' Committees, within their terms of reference and concerning the national consumer interest as well as a Departmental one, to refer the report to the Ministers responsible for consumer affairs, in addition to the Departmental Ministers deemed to be affected.

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD DRUMALBYN)

My Lords, when a Minister receives a report from an Advisory or Consultative Committee, either because it is submitted to him direct in accordance with Statute, or because it has been forwarded to him by the body to whom the Committee reports, he is free to consult any of his colleagues whom he considers appropriate.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, might I ask the noble Lord, as the Minister chiefly responsible in this House, I think, for consumer affairs, whether he does not consider it would have been useful if he had read the report of the Airline Users' Committee before answering the Question in this House on December 5?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I am afraid I do not remember whether I had read the report or not, at that time. I am not aware of how that particular report was dealt with—whether it was forwarded by the Chairman of the Airline Users' Committee to the Board to which it reports, or whether it was passed on direct by the Chairman of that Board, who happens to be also Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, to the Minister. I am afraid I cannot answer that question without notice.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, I am sure the noble Lord should be able to. Is he aware that I sent it myself to the Minister for Trade and Consumer Affairs on November 21? Is the Minister also aware that it was quite obvious on December 5 that he had not read the report of this Users' Committee, as his answers were in complete contradiction to what had been found by that Committee?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, the noble Baroness must forgive me if my memory is at fault. What I am asking her is to allow me to check on the situation to see exactly what did happen.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, could the noble Lord the Leader of the House, or the acting Leader, inform the House whether, in view of the existing transport difficulties, the first Question on the Order Paper might not be demoted to the fourth Question?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, I am sorry; but I am afraid it is quite outside my power to alter the Rules of the House.