§ 3.14 p.m.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I beg leave to make an announcement concerning the Business of the House to-morrow and Wednesday. There are a very large number of your Lordships who desire to take part in to-morrow's debate on Foreign Affairs. It is, I think, obvious that we cannot conveniently continue the 22 debate on Wednesday, because the Order Paper for that day already full—indeed, there is some doubt whether we can get the whole of the Business through on Wednesday. It has therefore been agreed, through the usual channels, that to-morrow there should be a dinner adjournment from seven o'clock to eight-thirty p.m., so as to enable us to complete in one day the debate on Foreign Affairs.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, this is a message which has just been given to me: if the noble Lord, Lord Rea, has not been consulted about it, I very much regret it. But I hope that the noble Lord will have no objection to the proposed adjournment for dinner.
§ VISCOUNT SIMONMy Lords, if it transpired that some of those noble Lords who have indicated their wish to speak decided, in the circumstances, not to call upon the attention of the House, it might be that the debate could be concluded without that break.
§ LORD SHEPHERDI agree with the noble and learned Viscount that such would be the case; but we are members of a House where each noble Lord is entitled to speak if he so desires. It is, therefore, very difficult for the Whips, as may be done in some other assemblies, to ask their noble friends not to press their views.
§ VISCOUNT SIMONA collective contribution might perhaps be made.