§ Considered in Committee.
§ [Sir ERIC FLETCHER in the Chair]
§ 10.26 p.m.
§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Herbert Bowden)I beg to move,
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that Her Majesty will 1384 give directions that there be presented, on behalf of this House, a Speaker's Chair to the National Assembly of Malawi and assuring Her Majesty that this House will make good the expenses attending the same.I am most happy to move this Motion. It is in the now established tradition of the House that we send a gift to the Legislature of a Commonwealth country to mark that country's attainment of independence within the Commonwealth. It is a great tradition that we always are glad to honour. The Committee may recall that in June, 1964, the then Prime Minister informed the House that Her Majesty's Government would propose that the House should offer to the National Assembly of Malawi the gift of a Speaker's Chair. The authorities in Malawi, whose wishes were naturally consulted, welcomed this proposal. The gift will be on display in the Upper Waiting Hall from 2nd-6th May, 1966, for hon. and right hon. Members to see.If the Committee accepts this Motion, as I feel sure it will wish to do, arrangements will then be made by Mr. Speaker for a small delegation from the House to present the gift with our best wishes. The presentation is expected to take place during the first week of July to coincide with the official opening of the National Assembly, with celebrations to mark Malawi's becoming a Republic.
I recommend the Motion to the Committee in the expectation that it will be accepted as an expression of our friendship and good will towards the National Assembly of Malawi.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Resolution to be reported.
§ Report to be received Tomorrow.