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Mr. Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): Will the Leader of the House find time for an early debate on reports that members of the Conservative party are to be given psychological and psychometric tests to ensure that they are appropriate candidates for Parliament? Could not that involve us in some large-scale expenditure, in view of the redundancy payments necessary for many Conservative Members?
Mrs. Taylor: My hon. Friend makes a good point. It is tempting to follow his line of thought and consider what the outcome might be, but I think it would be better if I said that the internal arrangements for the selection of candidates are a matter for the Conservative party.
Mr. Andrew Robathan (Blaby): Will the Leader of the House make time in the very near future for a debate on the purpose of the Register of Members' Interests? Given that in 1995 the now Deputy Prime Minister went to Silverstone and declared his visit, and that in 1996 the now Paymaster General went to Silverstone with his family and declared his visit, would not the Prime Minister relish the opportunity to explain why he believes that he is above the rules of the House, according to the advice that I am given, and failed to declare his visit in 1996? Would it not also give the Prime Minister the opportunity to declare the involvement of one David Ward, a professional lobbyist working on behalf of the FIA, and explain why a professional lobbyist wanted him to go to Silverstone?
Mrs. Taylor: I would hope that the purpose of the Register of Members' Interests was clear to all hon. Members. Of course, we now have a code of conduct, which should help to guide hon. Members on such matters. On the hon. Gentleman's wider point, I admitted last week that I thought that it was tempting to arrange a general debate on the funding of both political parties, and it is still very tempting.
Mr. Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale, West): Given the Government's recent decision to refuse to hold a public inquiry into Manchester United's plans to build on 100 acres of farmland at Carrington Moss, will the Leader of the House call the Deputy Prime Minister to the House to explain the Government's new policy of not protecting green-belt land?
Mrs. Taylor: I do not think that there is scope for a debate on that matter in the near future. As I said last week, the Government are committed to their green-belt policy but, under this Government, as under the previous Government, every decision has to be considered on its merits.
Mr. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): Will the right hon. Lady confirm her commitment to the Select
Committee system? Does she agree that Select Committees have an important role to play, on behalf of Parliament, in investigating the activities of the Executive? In that connection, will she initiate an early debate on the role of Select Committees and undertake to read the transcript of yesterday afternoon's meeting of the Select Committee on European Legislation, when the Chairman tried to gag the three Conservative Members on that Committee and prevent them from asking questions which were in order and very, very pertinent?
Mrs. Taylor: I can confirm that I think that Select Committees are extremely important. I do not think that we need a debate on their role at the moment but, of course, the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of the Commons intends to consider how best to use the talents of hon. Members, especially on Select Committees. As for what happened yesterday, if the hon. Gentleman is saying that his colleagues were capable of being gagged, it is a remarkable admission. I do not believe that the Chairman of any Committee of the House would deliberately seek to gag hon. Members.
Mr. Phil Hope (Corby): My right hon. Friend will be aware that the Government have announced a working party to develop citizenship education in schools. Will she allow parliamentary time for a debate on the importance of promoting that, in both formal and informal education? Many young people are alienated and disillusioned and do not feel connected to the political world that we inhabit. Is it not important to encourage, wherever possible, the involvement of young people, so that they have a greater say in decisions that affect their lives?
Mrs. Taylor: I am glad that my hon. Friend welcomes the establishment of the working party. I hope that all hon. Members agree that citizenship education is an important objective for schools. I cannot find Government time for a debate in the near future, but it might be possible to debate that, along with many other issues, when we consider forthcoming education legislation. Many hon. Members might be interested in contributing to the debate on how best to deliver such education. Perhaps my hon. Friend could apply for an Adjournment debate.
Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham): Will the right hon. Lady find time next week for a statement by the President of the Board of Trade? Following the press conference earlier this year by the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe, Lord Simon, it is vital that we should be told whether he has sold all his BP shares, when he did so, what profit he made from them and to which charity or charities that profit has been donated.
Mrs. Taylor: There is no need for a statement. It is striking how obsessive the Conservatives are on that issue, mainly because they cannot come to terms with the fact that senior business men support the Labour party.
Mr. Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): Further to that question, what does the Leader of the House regard as a reasonable attitude from Ministers to questions asked in the House? Some Conservative Members have been asking for some months for clear, simple details about the timing of the sale of certain shares. Those are matters of
great public import. Will the Leader of the House give us and her colleagues some guidance on the standards that should be maintained in answering such questions?
Mrs. Taylor: If questions relate to matters covered by the code of guidance to Ministers, and the permanent secretary and the Cabinet Secretary are satisfied with the procedures that Ministers have adopted, there is no need for further questions.
Mr. Desmond Swayne (New Forest, West): In an interview at the weekend, the Prime Minister expressed dissatisfaction that he could be thought capable of any wrongdoing. Will the Leader of the House provide time for a debate, so that the representatives of the people can express their apology to the dear leader and so that he might have the opportunity to explain why he alone among his co-religionists has escaped taint of original sin? Has he become a Pelagian?
Mrs. Taylor: I hardly think that that is worthy of an answer.
Mr. Owen Paterson (North Shropshire): As a new Member, I understand that my main role is to ask the Executive pertinent questions. Since May, I have been astonished by the Government's refusal to answer questions. We had an appalling example yesterday, when the Prime Minister slapped down my hon. Friend the Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow). At Trade and Industry questions today, time after time questions were not answered. Could we have a full debate on the role of Question Time?
Mrs. Taylor: We have had a question at last. The answer is no.
Mr. Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam): Will the Leader of the House find time next week for hon. Members to debate disability living allowance and the review of disability benefits? Hon. Members have shown their interest in the issue by signing early-day motion 448.
[That this House is gravely concerned by the implementation of the benefit integrity project which is resulting in apparently arbitrary and superficial decisions currently being made to withdraw disability living allowance and associated benefits from many people with severe disabilities, some of whom had been awarded the benefit for life; and accordingly asks the Government to take urgent action to ensure that persons suffering from disabilities which prevent them from taking employment are treated sympathetically and that benefits are not withdrawn without proper reasons.]
Hon. Members have also signed early-day motion 483. They are clearly concerned on behalf of their constituents about the way in which the benefit integrity programme is proceeding and the fact that it is leading to the withdrawal of disability living allowance. They are concerned about current Government reviews, which could lead to cuts in the benefits or their removal. May we have a debate so that those matters can be aired and we can find out the Government's true intentions?
Mrs. Taylor:
We had Social Security questions earlier this week, and I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman
Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover):
Is my right hon. Friend aware that if she acceded to requests for a debate on Ministers not answering questions in this House, I would be able to point out that Lady Thatcher's Government had a Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who did not answer a single question in this House, the reason being that he was not a Member of this House, but a Member of the House of Lords?
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