HL Deb 04 July 1977 vol 385 cc6-7

2.45 p.m.

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDE

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

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will give an assurance that the report of the Fay Committee on the Crown Agents will be published in time for debate before Parliament rises for the Summer Recess.

Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Minister for Overseas Development does not expect to receive the Fay Committee's Report for the next few weeks, and I am afraid that there cannot therefore be a debate before the Summer Recess. The report will be published as soon as possible after it is received.

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDE

My Lords, though I cannot thank the noble Baroness for that Answer, I should like to ask her whether the Government are quite certain that they are not holding back the Fay Report so that we cannot have a debate on the matter, having regard to the fact that Statements have been made from time to time that the Fay Report was to be produced? Does the noble Baroness not think that it is absolutely ridiculous that we have had to wait as long as we have, and that we still have to wait before we can even have a debate upon this very important matter? I am very much upset and annoyed.

Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

My Lords, I am deeply upset that the noble Baroness is very much upset, and gratitude, I am afraid, is the last thing I look for. But I must make clear one point which I have made many times previously in this House: no Minister has ever said that the Fay Report would be ready in under two years, and that probably it would be longer. I should like to remind the noble Baroness that I wrote to her in February saying that we could not expect the report until midsummer, and probably later.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, in thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask whether she is satisfied that the past deficiencies and inefficiencies of the Crown Agents have now been remedied?

Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

My Lords, it would take a very rash Minister to say that all inefficiencies have been remedied; and I will not go that far. But this Government, and previous Administrations, have done everything in their power to uphold the excellent institution of the Crown Agents, and to iron out the difficulties that have arisen.

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDE

My Lords, having regard to her last reply, does the noble Baroness agree that it would be in the interests of the Crown Agents to have the report, which will no doubt make various complimentary remarks about the Crown Agents in general? Does she agree that the Crown Agents are being held up in terms of getting satisfaction because of the problem of a few who have, perhaps, not been quite so helpful as they might have been? It is too silly.

Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

My Lords, I have had no complaints from the Crown Agents about the time it has taken; indeed, they specifically asked that such a complex matter should be gone into as thoroughly as Judge Fay thought necessary.