HC Deb 15 December 1992 vol 216 cc131-2W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what public legislation is not applicable to the operations of his Department; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will make a statement about the application of Crown immunity to the operations of his Department.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The Ministry of Defence is in general subject to regulatory requirements and enforcement arrangements on the same basis as others, except where there is a legitimate reason for exemption, for example on grounds of national security. Even in circumstances where the Department is not bound by legislation it is the Ministry's policy that it should comply as though requirements applied to it wherever this is appropriate and practicable. Since the repeal in 1987 of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947, the position

Bill Size of commitee Conservative Labour Other
Asylum and Immigration Appeals 22 12 9 1
Bankruptcy (Scotland) 20 11 8 1
British Coal and British Rail (Transfer Proposals) 22 12 9 1
Cardiff Bay Barrage 20 11 8 1
Civil Service (Management Functions) 18 10 7 1
Community Care (Residential Functions) 21 11 9 1
Education 33 17 14 2
Finance 34 18 14 2
Housing and Urban Development 32 17 14 1
Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) 20 11 8 1
Sea Fish (Conservation) 18 10 7 1
Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights 30 16 13 1
all SI committees 18 10 7 1

(iii) Under Standing Order No. 86 the Committee of Selection is required to nominate not fewer than 16 nor more than 50 members to serve on these Standing Committees. In nominating members, it is required to have regard to the qualifications of Members and to the composition of the House.

(iv) Proportions for Standing Committees of between 16 and 50 Members are as follows:

Size of commitee Conservative Labour Other
16 9 6 1
17 9 7 1
18 10 7 1
19 10 8 1
20 11 8 1
21 11 9 1
22 12 9 1
23 12 9 2
24 13 10 1
25 13 10 2
26 14 11 2
27 14 11 2
28 15 11 2
29 15 12 2
30 16 12 2
31 16 13 2
32 17 14 2
33 17 14 2

of service personnel injured on duty is the same in relation to the Ministry of Defence as that of any other employees and their employer.