HC Deb 05 December 1963 vol 685 cc1494-6

Considered in Committee.

[Sir ROBERT GRIMSTON in the Chair]

10.7 p.m.

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd)

I beg to move

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that Her Majesty will give directions that there be presented, on behalf of this House, a Speaker's Chair to the House of Representatives of Jamaica, and assuring Her Majesty that this House will make good the expenses attending the same. This Motion, and the one which follows it, are in the established and happy tradition of this House when we send gifts from the House of Commons to other Legislatures within the Commonwealth. I think that it is fitting that this should be our practice since our own House is enriched by gifts from other Parliaments in the Commonwealth, gifts which give visible expression to the ties which bind us together.

The Committee may recall that, shortly before the House adjourned for the Summer Recess last year, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bromley (Mr. H. Macmillan), replying to the late Mr. Hugh Gaitskeli, informed the House that Her Majesty's Government proposed that Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House, should offer gifts to the House of Representatives of Jamaica and also to that of Trinidad and Tobago.

It had, of course, to be ascertained that these gifts would be welcomed by the parliamentary authorities in those countries. The gifts have been on display within the Palace of Westminster for hon. Members to appreciate the craftsmanship and the care which have gone into their making.

If the Committee accepts this Motion and the following one, as I feel sure that it will wish to do, arrangements will be made by Mr. Speaker, in accordance with our custom, for a small delegation from the House to present the gifts with our best wishes. I understand that it would be for the convenience of the Houses in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago if the presentations were made in January.

I therefore commend this Motion to the Committee in the belief that it will be accepted in all quarters in a spirit of sincerely felt friendship and good will to these new Legislatures.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported.

Report to be received Tomorrow.