HC Deb 01 December 1947 vol 445 cc25-6
45. Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is aware that seven identical copies, in separate envelopes, of a notice from the Privy Council ordering the inclusion in the Book of Common Prayer of the words the Duke of Edinburgh in the Prayers for the Royal Family have been sent to the Archdeacon of Bedford; and if he will make a statement.

The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)

I have caused inquiries to be made of Messrs. Eyre and Spottiswoode, who, as The King's Printers, were responsible for promulgating the Order to which my hon. Friend refers. I understand that they employed their usual addressing agency, and that, so far as Messrs. Eyre and Spottiswoode are aware, this is the first occasion on which the work of the agency has been open to criticism.

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

Is my right hon. Friend aware that private enterprise seems to be the culprit in this case, and that, out of consideration for the feelings of hon. Members opposite I do not propose to press this question as I might otherwise have done.

Captain Marsden

May I ask the Lord President why it was that, in Prayers today, we referred to the Duke of Edinburgh as such, and did not use his Christian name, Philip, whereas we did use the Christian name in the case of the other Members of the Royal Family?

Mr. Morrison

That has nothing to do with the Archdeacon having got a number of copies to which my hon. Friend referred. I think that that is a technical question which had better be put on the Order Paper.