HC Deb 03 February 1966 vol 723 cc1302-3

As amended (in the Standing Committee), considered.

3.55 p.m.

Mr. Robert Carr (Mitcham) rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Will hon. Members leave the Chamber quietly please?

Mr. Carr

On a point of order. The Committee stage of this Bill was concluded on the eve of the Christmas Recess under the chairmanship of Dame Edith Pitt. Her chairmanship was firm, wise and friendly and, as a result, I think that all hon. Members on the Committee would agree that our work was enjoyable as well as, I hope, constructive.

I am sure that you, Mr. Speaker, will understand that all of us who were on that Standing Committee feel a particular pang of sorrow and loss and would wish, before we go further with the Bill, to express our feelings in a very simple manner and our gratitude for the work which Dame Edith did and our tribute to her.

Hon. Members

Hear, hear.

The Minister of Aviation (Mr. Frederick Mulley)

Further to that point of order. On behalf of my right hon. and hon. Friends and myself, I should like to join in the very appropriate tribute made by the right hon. Member for Mitcham (Mr. R. Carr) to the memory of Dame Edith Pitt. We have the same happy recollections of her great contribution to the House, not only in its Committee work but in other aspects of the work of the House. We share the loss which, I know, is felt deeply on the benches opposite at the sudden and tragic death of the hon. Lady.

We in the Ministry of Aviation have particularly happy memories of her, because not only are we indebted to her for her chairmanship of the present Bill: she also presided over the Airports Authority Bill. We should like very much to join in what the right hon. Member has said.

Mr. J. Grimond (Orkney and Shetland)

Perhaps I may be allowed to say that although not on the Committee, I and my hon. Friends would like to be associated with the tribute to the esteem and affection in which the hon. Lady was held in the House.