§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Francis Pym)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 gift of a Speaker's Chair to the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe, and assuring Her Majesty that this House will make good the expenses attending the same.When Zimbabwe became an independent State within the Commonwealth it was proposed that the House of Commons should mark this event by the presentation of a gift to the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe. I am pleased to be able to tell the House that agreement has been reached with the Speaker of the Zimbabwe House on the nature of the gift, and its manufacture is nearly complete.The gift is a Speaker's Chair, which will replace the old Chair which was presented to the former Rhodesian Parliament many years ago. I understand that the Chair is made of English oak and is a fine example of British craftsmanship. It will be on display to hon. Members in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 25 January to Wednesday 27 January.
I commend the motion to the House as an expression of the great good will that goes out from the House to Zimbabwe. A motion will be moved later for the nomination of a delegation to present the gift.
§ Mr. Charles R. Morris (Manchester, Openshaw)The official Opposition wish to support the terms of the motion and certainly the terms in which the Leader of the House moved it. We hope and trust that this gift will symbolise the continuing friendship of the British and Zimbabwean Parliaments. Equally, we hope that the gift will convey the very warm regard that we have for the people of Zimbabwe. We wish them well in the years ahead.
§ Question put and agreed to.