HL Deb 18 March 1999 vol 598 cc823-6

3.11 p. m.

Lord Napier and Ettrick

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper. In so doing, I declare an interest as a descendant of one of the most ancient noble families in Scotland.

The Question was as follows: To ask Her Majesty"s Government what arrangements have been made for the ceremonial, and for the attendance of the Peerage of Scotland, at the opening of the new Scottish Parliament by the Sovereign on Thursday, 1st July 1999.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

My Lords, arrangements for 1st July are being developed by the Opening Ceremony Working Group, which includes representatives from a range of interested organisations. Details of the plans for the day will be announced shortly.

Lord Napier and Ettrick

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that chink of light. Does he agree with me that when this event occurs it will be the most momentous thing to have happened in Scotland since the last sovereign Scottish Parliament adjourned on 1st May 1707? Is it not of paramount importance that nobody should rubbish our history and traditions if we are to maintain this Kingdom united?

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

My Lords, the opening ceremony for the Scottish Parliament will be a ceremony appropriate for a modern parliament, while fully recognising Scottish traditions. It will be a dignified ceremony appropriate to the occasion. Careful planning and consultation are in hand for the ceremony, including continuing discussions between the Scottish Office and Buckingham Palace. However, no final decisions have been taken. The events of the day will be full of colour and pageantry and will be an opportunity to celebrate the establishment of the new Parliament. I hope no noble Lords in the House today are related to any of those Lords denounced by Robert Burns as a parcel of rogues for voting in favour of the Union!

Lord Steel of Aikwood

My Lords, is the Minister aware that at least seven Members of your Lordships' House will be either hoping or expecting to be in attendance on the Sovereign at that occasion because they are standing for election to the Parliament? Is he aware that in some cases the expectation is greater than the hope and in others the hope is greater than the expectation? Does he accept that, whatever advance work is being done, no one can determine what the arrangements will be until the Parliament has met on 12th May and made its own decisions as to what will happen at the official opening on 1st July?

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

My Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord is correct. As I said, discussions are in progress through the Opening Ceremony Working Group. Representatives on that body include representatives of the Palace, the military, the police, Edinburgh council, the consultative steering group, which has been influential in preparing for the new Parliament, and other interested bodies. I look forward to seeing a number of noble Lords in the Scottish Parliament. I am sorry that I am not standing myself, but I wish them well.

The Countess of Mar

My Lords, does the noble Lord accept that, as the holder of the most ancient peerage in the United Kingdom—which coincidentally happens to be a Scottish peerage—despite the length of my lineage, my mind is not cast in stone, going back to 1114?

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

My Lords, I am delighted to hear that. I look forward to seeing as many noble Lords at the ceremony as can be accommodated, but we should be aware that the public space in the assembly hall in Edinburgh is restricted to fewer than 500 seats. We believe that, with full consultation, we shall be able to achieve the appropriate balance at the opening ceremony.

Baroness Carnegy of Lour

My Lords, I am not an hereditary Peer, of course. Can the noble Lord tell the House whether the Peerage of Scotland is one of the interested bodies which the working group is consulting?

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

My Lords, we are currently considering who should be invited to the opening ceremony. Clearly many groups and individuals will have a claim.

Baroness Carnegy of Lour

My Lords, if the noble Lord will forgive me, I asked whether the Peerage of Scotland was one of the interested bodies that the working group was now consulting.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

My Lords, in answer to the noble Baroness, I was going on to say that many groups and individuals with a claim will be invited. The Scottish Peers will be considered, along with the other groups. Although not everyone will be able to attend the ceremony, we expect to see many people in Edinburgh and across Scotland.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord on his baptismal outing in the past 15 minutes. Perhaps I may ask him when I may expect my invitation as a Peer who is not standing for election to the Scottish Parliament.

Does the noble Lord agree that it is important that we combine a modern parliament with some degree of pageantry and colour to show that this is a serious and historic event? Will he assure me that, whatever decisions are taken by the working group and transmitted to Her Majesty, it will be made clear, especially to the press, that Her Majesty will be attending at the request of the Parliament?

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

My Lords, I can assure the noble Lord that all these matters are being given full consideration. We believe that the noble Lord's concerns for the historic organisation of the day will be fully met. The challenge is to balance the traditional elements with a forward-looking modern event that befits a new parliament and a new millennium. I stress that detailed plans are being finalised to try to achieve that; there is still opportunity to influence the outcome.

The Earl of Kintore

My Lords, I declare an interest as a Scottish Peer. Are the Government aware that the current Sword of State was deliberately broken for concealment purposes and, although now repaired, is still rather fragile? To celebrate the return of a parliament to Scotland, will the Government take the opportunity to commission a new sword from craftsmen living in Scotland?

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

My Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord's suggestion will be taken into consideration by the Opening Ceremony Working Group. The sword looks fragile but rather splendid in its historical setting, which I think we owe to Sir Walter Scott for rediscovering it after the centuries during which it was lost.