Communications Committee
Debate between Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe and Lord Brabazon of Tara
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe
My Lords, I apologise to the Chairman of Committees that I did not give him prior notice, but it is only when I saw the paucity of business on the Order Paper today that I felt moved to raise a question about the Economic Affairs Committee. It seems outrageous—
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara)
If the noble Lord wants to raise a question about the Economic Affairs Committee, I shall, if I may, first move the first two Motions standing in my name on the Order Paper.
Economic Affairs Committee
Debate between Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe and Lord Brabazon of Tara
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe
My Lords, I think that the Motion will be agreed to in due course. I do not raise a question about the names of those who are nominated; I raise a question about the terms of reference under which the committee operates. I find it staggering that we have such an assembly today with such a paucity of business on the agenda. We have a Budget announcement today. We have a new Leader of the House who, when he was in opposition, consistently argued that there should be an opportunity for a debate on Budgets. As budgetary issues will be the major topic that the country will face for the coming years, at least the Economic Affairs Committee should look at that topic to see whether there are means whereby the expertise, skills, knowledge and experience that we have in this House can be brought to bear occasionally with a debate on the Budget. I trust that the Chairman of Committees will take that back and, I hope, make an amendment in due course.
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara)
I am glad to say that the arrangement of business is not a matter for me, but I am sure that the usual channels will have heard the points that the noble Lord, Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe, made. I am only disappointed that the noble Lord, Lord Pearson of Rannoch, the leader of the UK Independence Party, is not here to raise a question on the European Union Committee. I am disappointed that he has failed to appear this year. Nevertheless, other noble Lords have made up very well for his absence.
With the leave of the House, I beg to move that the Motion be agreed to.
Motion agreed.