HL Deb 24 July 1974 vol 353 cc1669-70

2.56 p.m.

LORD O'HAGAN

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 how they propose to ascertain the views of Members of both Houses of Parliament and the public in the course of their review of citizenship.

LORD WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, the Government have not yet decided upon the form that their review of citizenship will take, but we shall certainly bear in mind the need to ascertain the views of Members of both Houses and of the public.

LORD O'HAGAN

My Lords, may I take it from the noble Lord's Answer that Her Majesty's Government have not ruled out the possibility of setting up a Select Committee of both Houses on this subject and, if that is not a front runner, could the noble Lord give a little more detail about the other forms which the review might take and which would involve both Houses of Parliament and members of the public?

LORD WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, the Government have not yet made a decision on the form of the review. It could be by a Select Committee; it could be by a Royal Commission. There are a number of ways in which this matter could be considered. What Her Majesty's Government are doing at the present moment is weighing up all the procedures that could be adopted and, what is much more important, the considerations which will have to be taken into account. A good deal has been done in that field.

LORD O'HAGAN

My Lords, I wonder whether we can expect an announcement on this subject before the Recess, giving in detail the form of the review?

LORD WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, I think that that is most unlikely.