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Honours System (Reform)

: Someone who donates to a political party should not be debarred or disqualified from receiving honours, but should merit the honour in their own right. The Committee was rightly particularly strong on the question of maximum transparency in the system, and I have paid tribute to John Major's work in that field. Honours play a key part in our national life. They provide colour and embody some of our best traditions as a nation. I agree with the Committee that there is a case for improving the procedures that underlie the system for nominations, and for adding awards from time to time, but I hope that the Committee will accept that its more extreme proposal is, perhaps, best forgotten. We will see what it says in its latest report. Finally, I should mention the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, which has united the nation and helped young people. The scheme, which provides an example of the best parts of the honours system, is 50 years old this year.