HL Deb 23 January 1962 vol 236 cc833-4

2.46 p.m.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS BOROUGH

My Lords, I apologise to the House, but I have to ask four Private Notice Questions. Perhaps I may put them all in one so as to save time. First of all, I should like to ask whether the Government can make a statement on the armed invasion into British Honduras from Guatemala. Secondly, I should like to ask what communication the Minister of Transport has sent to the Chairman of the British Transport Commission regarding to-day's wages negotiations. Thirdly, on smallpox, I should like to ask the Government whether they will make a statement 'a bout the outbreaks of smallpox. Fourthly, I should like to ask whether the Government have any statement to make as to whether they propose or do not propose to hold an inquiry into the proposal of Imperial Chemical Industries to take over Courtaulds.

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

My Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for asking these Questions in such a compendious form. As regards the first three of them, at any rate, statements will be made later. I am not quite sure of the position about the fourth, but there are Questions on the Order Paper of another place, or there is a Private Notice Question in the other place, and I will seek to find out what my right honourable friend is saying there and will endeavour to see that someone says much the same sort of thing here.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS BOROUGH

I am much obliged to the noble Viscount. On the last point, I understood from hearsay, at any rate, that the Question was being accepted in the other place.

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

I think it is, but I am not quite sure in what form.