HL Deb 12 December 1977 vol 387 cc1853-5

2.51 p.m.

Lord CAMPBELL of CROY

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 what tasks the Central Policy Review Staff are at present undertaking.

The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Lord Peart)

My Lords, the tasks of the Central Policy Review Staff continue as originally envisaged when the unit was set up. The noble Lord will find these set out in Cmnd. 4506. The issues with which the CPRS is concerned, and the advice given, must generally remain confidential.

Lord CAMPBELL of CROY

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. Will the CPRS, which can make valuable contributions, concentrate in future on central policy, as was originally intended when it was set up? In the recent debate in your Lordships' House on overseas representation, most noble Lords who spoke with great knowledge and experience rejected the main recommendations of that Think Tank report. Has the Prime Minister's attention been drawn to that matter?

Lord PEART

My Lords, of course, the Prime Minister's attention has been drawn to it; but, after all, the noble Lord must remember that it was his Government who set this up. I see no reason why there should not be an examination of the Foreign Service. We had a very good debate here, and no doubt we shall, as a Government, take note of the views of noble Lords on this question.

Lord CAMPBELL of CROY

My Lords, to be more constructive and perhaps putting forward some helpful suggestions—since there seemed to be some matters on which the Government stand in need of some policy guidance—might the unit not be asked to consider whether the nationalised shipbuilding industry might in future give ships away free as good will gifts to Communist countries as an alternative to selling them for money? Perhaps they might also be asked to look into the ethics of recording interviews with members of the public for broadcasting as political broadcasts without informing the people concerned of the purpose.

Lord PEART

My Lords, the noble Lord asked a Question about the CPRS. I believe he is abusing his position with the questions he has asked now. I think it is totally wrong to attack an organisation in the guise of an attack on the Government over shipbuilding policy.

Lord CAMPBELL of CROY

My Lords, I was not attacking the organisation; I was merely making some suggestions about difficult problems which have to be considered.

Lord PEART

My Lords, I hope the noble Lord will regret what he said earlier.

The Earl of KINNOULL

My Lords, even if the contents have to be confidential, at least the subjects could be made public, could they not?

Lord PEART

My Lords, I accept that and I believe that this organisation, which was created following a policy decision of a previous Administration, can make a major contribution—

Lord CAMPBELL of CROY

My Lords, that is what I said.

Lord PEART

My Lords, the noble Lord should not ask questions sitting down. I believe that it has a major contribution to make.