HL Deb 11 December 1997 vol 584 c243
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham)

My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.

Moved, That the first report from the Select Committee be agreed to (HL Paper 39).—(The Chairman of Committees.)

Following is the report referred to:

Future Committee activity

1. The Committee's First Report, Session 1996–97, recommended the re-appointment of the Committee on the Public Service in the new Parliament, on the understanding that it should complete its work by Christmas 1997. We have therefore considered whether another ad hoc Committee should be appointed after that Committee has reported to the House, but we have decided to defer a decision until the new year. This will enable us to take account of any proposals which may have emerged by then.

The European Union budget

2. We have considered the suggestion, made during Starred Questions on 4 November (Official Report, cols. 1317 18), that an additional Select Committee might be appointed to examine the European Union budget and perhaps other aspects of European Union expenditure.

3 We understand that the difficulties encountered by the European Communities Committee in scrutinising the annual budget proposals arise from the tight timetable, allowing little time for scrutiny, and that this problem is being actively pursued by the Committee, in particular in correspondence with Treasury ministers. We consider that it would serve no useful purpose to appoint a separate Committee. Nor would it be right to set up an additional Sub-Committee of the European Communities Committee, when only a year ago the number of Sub-Committees was increased from five to six for an experimental period of two years.

Baroness David

My Lords, perhaps I might ask the Chairman of Committees a question. It was decided by the House that a Select Committee should be set up to examine the question of changing the ceremony for the Introduction of new Peers to the House. May I ask what has happened about that? It is not mentioned in the report.

The Chairman of Committees

My Lords, strictly speaking, since the matter does not appear on the face of the report, I suppose that I should protect the interests of the House by concentrating only on matters which arise on the report. Had the House permitted me to do so, I should have indicated to the noble Baroness that it is hoped that a suitable Motion will be placed before your Lordships before the House rises for the Christmas Recess.

On Question, Motion agreed to.