§ 2.55 p.m.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, I ask leave to correct a statement I made in your Lordships' House. In the course of a speech which I made on the Motion of the noble Lord, Lord Layton, on the subject of newsprint, I made a statement which I now know was quite incorrect, and which may reflect on a great newspaper. I am reported as having said:
Yesterday we had a fairly extensive debate and several Divisions in this House. The Times to-day reports the proceedings in 37 lines.I had a look at The Times before I made that statement. I looked at the Parliamentary Report, and the space was, as I had stated, thirty-seven lines; but I quite overlooked the fact that on the centre page there was a very full and entirely adequate report. I should like to express my deep regret for the statement made, and my apology to your Lordships' House and to the great newspaper involved.