HL Deb 26 April 1977 vol 382 cc386-7

2.58 p.m.

Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEY

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 why no woman has been appointed to the Honours Scrutiny Committee.

The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Lord Peart)

My Lords, no discrimination is involved in this matter. The noble Baroness, Lady Summerskill, was a member of the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee from 1967 until last year.

Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEY

My Lords, is the Leader of the House aware that to have a woman on this committee would be of real use to its proceedings, due to the very specialised knowledge that a woman has of her own sex, and also of the male sex? Having had a woman on this committee, is it not a retrograde step now to have appointed three men and no woman?

Lord PEART

My Lords, I find the need for a specialised knowledge of sex on this committee to be a strange argument. The committee was reconstituted with Lord Shackleton as chairman, Lord Carr of Hadley as the Conservative representative and Lord Franks as the Liberal representative. There was no question of sex discrimination.

Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONE

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that we on this side of the House shall not be satisfied until we have a woman Prime Minister, which will be after the next General Election?

Lord PEART

My Lords, the noble and learned Lord is so enthusiastic about his new Leader that I am rather surprised.

Baroness ELLES

My Lord, would not the Minister agree that it is rather surprising that all the political Parties in this House cannot find a woman who is suitable to sit on this committee? There are over 30 women Peers. Is it not time that this committee should have at least one woman representative upon it, discrimination or no discrimination?

Lord PEART

My Lords, all the names were carefully considered and I believe that the right choice was made.

Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEY

My Lords, if the noble Lord the Leader of the House does not want a statutory woman, may I ask him whether he would consider having two women and three men, which would get over that problem?

Lord PEART

My Lords, one might argue about this all night, but I will leave it at that.