§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)My Lords, before the commencement of business, I take the opportunity to inform the House that, with the approval of Her Majesty the Queen, I have accepted an invitation from the President of the United States of America to visit the United States from Saturday, 17th October, to Tuesday, 20th October, to represent Her Majesty's Government at ceremonies to commemorate the bicentenary of the surrender by the second Earl Cornwallis of Yorktown in 1781. Accordingly, I trust that the House will agree to grant me leave of absence for Monday the 19th October and Tuesday the 20th October.