§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which Members of the House were also members of regional economic planning councils on 28th May 1974.
§ Mr. John SilkinThere are five Members of this House currently serving on economic planning councils:
The hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) (Northern).
The hon. Member for Hove (Mr. Sainsbury) (South-East).
The hon. Member for Beeston (Mr. Lester) (East Midlands).
The hon. Members for Rochdale (Mr. Smith) and Leeds, West (Mr. Dean) (North-West).
The economic planning councils are essentially non-political advisory bodies whose advice is available to any Government. The appointment to them of Members of this House must inevitably detract from their non-political status. For this reason my right hon. Friend does not propose to extend the current appointments to economic planning councils of Members of this House when they expire at the end of this month; he will appoint no others, and will expect other members of councils to resign their appointments on election to Parliament.