Mr Robert Maxwell: On a point of order. I wish to obtain your Ruling, Mr. Speaker, on a matter affecting the privileges of the House. I draw attention to the Sunday Times Weekly Review, published yesterday, 12th October, and an article in it headed "Robert Maxwell" illustrated by a photograph of myself with Mr. and Mrs. Gaitskell and others, with the caption including the words "Maxwell the politician". In the...
Mr Robert Maxwell: Buckingham, yes.
Mr Robert Maxwell: Will my right hon. Friend consider inviting the National Savings Committee to encourage people on P.A.Y.E. to put part of their overtime earnings into a savings scheme, and will he consider exempting those savings from tax? This would be an incentive to work harder and encourage savings.
Mr Robert Maxwell: No.
Mr Robert Maxwell: I have been asked to reply. The Catering Sub-Committee views this decline with concern and is studying its possible causes and what might be done to improve the attractiveness of Members' dining facilities.
Mr Robert Maxwell: While undoubtedly the rise in prices has contributed to the fall in the sale of meals in the Members' Dining Room, an additional and more serious contributory factor is that in the 1964 Parliament, when the Government had a very narrow majority, there was a considerably higher attendance and fewer pairs in the House.
Mr Robert Maxwell: I cannot accept that. While undoubtedly there are many things which could and will be improved, the staff and management of the Department have done a considerable amount of work to turn the deficit into a profit. We hope to improve the quality and variety of service to the benefit of Members and their guests.
Mr Robert Maxwell: Does not my right hon. Friend regret the appalling effect on Anglo-French relations which the Soames affair has had? Would he be willing to agree, in the light of President Nixon's conviction that President de Gaulle is a person with whom we must do business, that Her Majesty's Government were wrong in deciding to have an all-out war with the French President?
Mr Robert Maxwell: I have been asked to reply. Such reviews are constantly made.
Mr Robert Maxwell: The Catering Sub-Committee is not seeking to make up losses for the distant past. We attempt to pay our way. If the hon. Member wishes to complain of specific prices such as he has mentioned we shall be glad to look into them.
Mr Robert Maxwell: This matter really requires another Question to be put down. I am glad to assure the House that the member of the staff to whom the hon. Gentleman has referred was not dismissed but resigned, and that the Committee is looking into the circumstances. In reply to the first part of the question, I am glad to assure the hon. Member that price increases are related only to cost increases.
Mr Robert Maxwell: I have been asked to reply. Alterations to the Members' and Strangers' Cafeterias are to be made during the Summer Recess. These will result in larger kitchen and service areas, and enable, it is hoped, a generally improved service to be given to Members, staff and guests.
Mr Robert Maxwell: All the dishes which my hon. Friend has described are splendid ones, but I must correct him; only last week we had at least two changes. If he finds the fare monotonous, I shall be glad to look at it again.
Mr Robert Maxwell: I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman. I assure him that the staff will appreciate this, and will continue to give the good service which they have given in the past.
Mr Robert Maxwell: This is obviously an occupation for intellectuals, and I cannot give that undertaking, but I will certainly take up the matter with the Department of Agriculture.
Mr Robert Maxwell: I have been asked to reply. There has been no formal decision by the Catering Sub-Committee. The surcharge has been retained because meat prices have, regrettably not dropped since the end of the epidemic.
Mr Robert Maxwell: If the hon. Member wishes to insist on that question he had better put down a Motion to that effect. The authority for price rises is with the Catering Sub-Committee, and the surcharge has not been withdrawn for the reasons which I have stated.
Mr Robert Maxwell: I warmly congratulate my right hon. Friend on achieving that which he set out to do. I recognise that the increased numbers are for services which are much needed and which will be much more cost effective, but may I ask my right hon. Friend to consider inviting civil servants to suggest to him how economies may be made in Departments and sections which have long lost their purpose but appear...
Mr Robert Maxwell: Mr. Robert Maxwell (Buckingham) rose—
Mr Robert Maxwell: Would my right hon. Friend not agree that the attitude of the Opposition is rather anti-British—[Hon. Members: "No."]—
