HC Deb 16 December 1985 vol 89 c3W

Mr. Dalyell asked the Prime Minister (1) what procedure is followed by Departments in submitting names for the honours list; and if she will move to appoint a joint committee to review the present departmental procedure with the object of widening its scope;

  1. (2) if she will define the phrase political services as it is used by her in submitting her list for honours;
  2. (3) what representations she has received on the procedure followed by Departments in submitting names for the honours list; and what reply she has sent;
  3. (4) if she has any plans for reviewing and modernising the departmental machinery for the submitting of names for honours lists; and if she will make a statement;
  4. (5) what are the functions and powers of the political honours scrutiny committee in relation to the suitability of individuals whose names are proposed to be submitted for honours to Her Majesty;
  5. (6) on what dates the political honours scrutiny committee met in each of the last five years;
  6. (7) who are the current members of the political honours scrutiny committee; and what are the criteria for making appointments to the committee;
  7. (8) what criteria are used in determining whether an individual's name should be included on the list of proposed honours submitted to the political honours scrutiny committee;
  8. (9) how many names were included in the list of proposed honours submitted to the political honours scrutiny committee in each of the last five years; and if she will provide a breakdown according to the political parties in respect of which those names were submitted.

The Prime Minister

It has rightly been the practice of successive Prime Ministers not to disclose or discuss details of the procedures and processes by which their recommendations to the Crown for inclusion in honours lists are arrived at, and I do not propose to depart from that practice.

I keep the arrangements under regular review, and they are modified from time to time in the light of changing needs or circumstances. I have no plans for any kind of external review.