Select Committee on Procedure

HC Deb 03 July 1972 vol 840 cc38-9W

Sir Robin Turton

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is now able to give an indication of the Government's views on the outstanding reports from the Select Committee on Procedure this Session.

Mr. R. Carr

Yes. As regards the Committee's first report this Session—dealing with our procedures for the election of a Speaker—the Government propose to recommend to the House that the Committee's proposals should be accepted.

On its second report—concerning the arrangements for Consolidated Fund Bill debates and for ministerial statements—the Government regard the arrangements for Consolidated Fund Bill debates as very much a matter to be settled on the basis of the general convenience of hon. Members. They believe, however, that the Committee's proposed changes will generally commend themselves to hon. Members as providing a more orderly framework of debate. It is, therefore, proposed to recommend them to the House. The Government cannot, however, give any undertaking to provide any time on Government Fridays for such debates, as proposed by the Committee. Nor, in view of the inevitable occasional need to alter business, could the Government undertake a commitment regarding the Committee's recommendation that the week in which such debates are to take place should be announced a week earlier than at present.

The Government also agree with the Committee's proposals in its second report for a new system of ministerial written statements. They feel, however, unable to recommend acceptance of the proposals—recommendations 13 to 15—that provision should be made in Standing Orders whereby Mr. Speaker should be enabled to interrupt business, either at 7 p.m. or at the conclusion of public business, for emergency ministerial statements.

The issue of the rights of attendance of hon. Members at meetings of Select Committees of which they are not members, with which the Committee's third report is concerned, is regarded by the Government as essentially a House of Commons rather than a Government, matter. Nevertheless, the Government believe that the House will welcome the Committee's recommendations as a desirable clarification of the present uncertain position.

The necessary motions and amendments to Standing Orders will be tabled as soon as possible.