Lords Sitting of 4 October 1951

Preamble
The House met at eleven of the clock, having been called together by the Lord Chairman of Committees in pursuance of the Resolution of 31st October last: The LORD CHANCELLOR On the Woolsack.
Prayers
The Lord Tennyson—Sat first in Parliament after the death of his father.

THE KING'S ILLNESS
11.8 a.m.
THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (VISCOUNT ADDISON): My Lords, I am moved by the kindness of your reception of me after my absence. I think it will be in accord with the wishes of all your Lordships that, despite the other important matters which are before us, we should not fail, at the opening of our proceedings, to express Our feelings with regard to the health of His Majesty the King, our anxiety that he should continue to make good progress, our admiration of his fortitude, and our hope that before long he will be restored to as good and vigorous a state of health as nature will make possible. I am sure it is true to say that day by day, as we have read the bulletins of good progress, they have come to us with feelings of infinite relief, because we all know that there have been, and still are, days of great physical peril.
I think your Lordships would also wish, in expressing our earnest hopes for His Majesty's good progress, to include a tribute of admiration to Her Majesty the Queen and the Members of the Royal Family. We open our proceedings to-day, pregnant as they may be with great consequences in other matters, with a unanimous expression of our admiration for the King's fortitude and our hope that he will continue to make good progress.
11.12 a.m.
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: My Lords, I am sure that the noble Viscount the Leader of the House, whom we are so happy to see back in his place to-day, has interpreted the feelings of the whole House in taking this first opportunity of expressing our heartfelt sympathy with His Majesty the King on his recent operation, and of wishing him a rapid and
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complete recovery. There are, as the noble Viscount has just said, many things on which we are divided—events abroad and events at home—but there is one matter upon which we are completely at one, and that is our deep loyalty and devotion to the Crown, and especially to the person of his present Majesty. As we have seen yet once again in recent weeks, no one in the long line of Kings of England has inspired deeper personal affection in his subjects. He has, in the truest sense of the words, been alike the ruler and the servant of his people. He has devoted his whole life and the life of his family to our welfare. He has shared in our joys; he has shared in our sorrows. We welcome the good news of his continued progress, and we send to him, to Her Majesty the Queen and to the whole Royal Family, whose anxieties we so greatly share, our heartfelt wishes for his early return to full health and vigour.
11.14 a.m.
VISCOUNT SAMUEL: My Lords, on behalf of noble Lords who sit on these Benches, I would add my endorsement to the expressions so worthily uttered by the noble Viscount the Leader of the House and by the noble Marquess the Leader of the Opposition. The recent medical reports have been a welcome relief to a very great anxiety. When the news came that the King was seriously ill, there was on personal grounds a feeling of universal grief. From the standpoint of public affairs, at a moment of accumulated difficulties, political and economic, at home and abroad, that the Sovereign, the pivot of the State, should have been so struck down, was a cause of dismay. Happily, His Majesty is now well on the way to recovery. We all know that when someone has been ill and has undergone a severe and dangerous operation there is afterwards not only a bodily but a mental strain. There may be some moments, at least, of depression, of doubt whether the work done has been well enough done and whether there is much still left to do. Then the best tonic is not any medicine that the doctors can give, but an assurance that the work has been worthy, that the work has been successful and that there is much more waiting to be accomplished. So to-day those who speak for the nation, which has been witnessing the King's actions since he and the Queen accepted

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the succession and throughout the long and often dangerous years that have since elapsed, may perhaps help a little in sending a respectful message—not as a mere flattering formula such as Kings and Princes know only too well, but sincerely and truthfully—of recognition of the excellence at all times throughout His Majesty's reign of the part played by the Crown in the affairs of State, and of the warm affection of the whole people for His Majesty's person.
11.17 a.m.
THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY: My Lords, it is difficult to find words which will add anything to what has been so admirably said already by way of the expression of a universal feeling, yet I should desire to associate myself publicly with what has thus been said. The illness of the King has revealed in the most vivid and moving way the unique position which he holds both in our national life and in the personal affections of all his subjects. It is not merely a duty which we owe to the Kingship, but a devotion which we owe to the person of the King. Among all the blessings of this blessed nation, there is none that ranks higher than the possession of a Kingship. When to that is added, as it is, a personal devotion, respect and affection for the holder of that great office, then ours is indeed a blessed nation.
As I and as your Lordships know well, throughout the country an immense volume of prayer has surrounded the King, the Queen, the Queen-Mother and all the Royal Family through these anxious days and weeks. It has not been less moving to see how sympathy and concern have been felt in foreign countries all over the world. I know from messages I have received that many churches outside this country have been uniting their prayers with our own. I instance the fact that the Archbishop of Utrecht, representing the old Catholic Churches on the Continent, wrote to me a personal message, and Pastor Boegner, the leader of the French Protestants, did likewise. We have been sustained ourselves, as the King has been, by this volume of prayer far beyond the reaches of this country. We have rejoiced humbly at the continued good progress of the King, and pray still that His Majesty
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may be restored, not only to a full recovery from the operation and from that which caused the operation, but to full action among us as both our leader and the devout and devoted servant of his people.
House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

PROROGATION: HIS MAJESTY'S SPEECH
11.20 a.m.
And afterwards His Majesty's most gracious Speech was delivered to both Houses of Parliament by The Lord Chancellor (in pursuance of His Majesty's Command) as followeth:
"My Lords and Members of the House of Commons:
"My Ministers have continued to give the fullest support to the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security.
"It is My earnest hope that the efforts which are being made to restore peace in Korea will be successful. Under the United Nations My Forces have continued to take a prominent part in the arduous campaign in that country. The land forces from the various Commonwealth countries have been grouped together to form the First (Commonwealth) Division. The heroic action of the First Battalion, the Gloucester Regiment, maintained the highest traditions of My fighting services and has been justly acclaimed throughout the world.
"My Ministers deeply regret that, although they made earnest efforts to find a basis for discussion, success did not attend the recent negotiations for a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Soviet Union, France, the United States and the United Kingdom.
"My Government, in association with the other Governments signatory to the North Atlantic Treaty, have accepted the necessity for making greatly increased provision for defence, and the consequent strengthening of My Forces is already becoming apparent. I pray that, with God's help, the defence programme will succeed in its purpose of averring war and laying the foundations of a lasting peace throughout the world.
"My Government have watched with sympathy and interest the progress made in building up, within the wider framework of the North Atlantic partnership, a European community in which Germany will play her part. My Government desire to establish a close association with this community at all stages of its development.
"I welcome the appointment of General of the Army Eisenhower as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. Units of My Forces have been placed under his command.
"In order to increase the readiness of our defences, members of My Reserve and Auxiliary Forces have been recalled for periods of training of between fifteen days and three months, and for periods of service amounting in some cases to eighteen months.
"My Ministers have tried to achieve by negotiation a solution of the unfortunate dispute which has arisen in connection with the oil industry in Iran, but these efforts, despite the help rendered by the President of the United States and his special representative, have so far been unsuccessful.
"My Government, jointly with the Government of the United States, sponsored the Treaty of Peace with Japan which was signed by forty-eight nations at San Francisco on the 8th September. The Treaty was the result of a prolonged series of international consultations in which My Government in the United Kingdom and My Governments in other Commonwealth countries had played a leading part.
"In Malaya further progress has been made in associating all communities with the administration of government and in furthering their welfare and prosperity. With the assistance of the peoples of Malaya and the civil administration, My troops have, with increasing success, continued their efforts to restore law and order and to bring communist banditry to an end.
"The Prime Ministers of all the self-governing countries of the Commonwealth, or their representatives, met in London in January last to review the international situation and to consider what further positive action Commonwealth Governments could take to
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secure and preserve world peace. Since then, Ministers from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia have met in London to consider defence problems in regions of common concern, including the Middle East, and South African Ministers have met representatives of other interested Governments in Nairobi to consider defence facilities in Africa.
"The increase in production, which has been among the outstanding achievements of this country since the war, has continued in the face of many difficulties. For this success great credit is due to workpeople and management throughout the whole range of industry, agriculture and commerce. Despite the obstacles caused by shortages of materials and the high prices of many imports, full employment has been maintained, our exports have continued at a high level and the rearmament programme has been further advanced.
"During the past session My Ministers were able to announce that, in agreement with the United States Government, it had been decided to suspend further allotments of Marshall Aid which had been so generously given to us by the people of the United States.
"In order to restrain the rise in living costs provoked by high import prices, measures have been taken, by the operation of price control and otherwise, to limit the rise in the prices of goods and services.
"I regret that, largely because of higher import prices, the balance of payments, which was remarkably favourable last year, has become less favourable in recent months.
"I warmly welcomed the State visits of Her Majesty The Queen of the Netherlands and His Royal Highness Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. Their Majesties The King and Queen of Denmark and His Majesty The King of Norway.
"It gave me great pleasure to open in May last the Festival of Britain, in which the whole nation has displayed its talents and traditions in the arts and sciences. Despite the clouds which hang

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over the world, the celebrations throughout the land have given a powerful stimulus to the arts of peace and have provided opportunity for well-earned recreation of spirit. I am pleased that so many visitors from overseas have attended the Festival, which has thus contributed to international friendship and understanding.
"My Ministers continue to attach importance to international co-operation and mutual aid in economic and social matters through the United Nations and other bodies. They welcomed delegates from Commonwealth and foreign countries to the tariff negotiations which were held last winter in Torquay, and have participated with other Commonwealth Governments in the plans for the economic development of South and South-East Asia. My Government continue to collaborate fully in the work of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation.
"My Ministers were glad to he able to exchange views at a meeting in London with My Ministers in other Commonwealth Governments concerned with the production of raw materials and the supply of manufactured goods, and to have the assistance of representatives from a number of Colonial territories in these deliberations.
"My deep sympathy went out to My people in Jamaica when many parts of the island were devastated by a hurricane on the 17th August. My Ministers in the United Kingdom announced an immediate grant for relief.
"Members of the House of Commons:
"I thank you for the provision which you have made for the public services.
"My Lords and Members of the House of Commons:
"Thanks to the determination of farmers and agricultural workers throughout a trying season, the programme for the expansion of the production of food at home has been carried on with unabated vigour.
"An Act has been passed to extend the help given to farmers rearing livestock in upland areas.
"My assent has also been given to a measure providing for the restoration to
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agriculture and other useful purposes of land broken up by the opencast working of ironstone.
"Legislation has been passed to establish a White Fish Authority with powers to reorganise, develop and regulate the white fish industry; and a new scheme has been approved conferring wider powers on the Herring Industry Board.
"New provisions have been enacted for ensuring the purity of the rivers and other inland or coastal waters. An Act has also been passed to increase the contributions which may be made from the Exchequer towards the cost of schemes for rural water supply and sewerage.
"My Government were gratified by the response which they received to their appeal for extra output from the coal mines. Higher levels of industrial production have, however, greatly increased the demand for fuel and power; and My Ministers have taken, and will continue to take, all practicable steps to encourage the recruiting of more miners, and to increase the supply of fuel, electricity and other forms of power and ensure their more efficient use.
"Both sides of industry have recognised the need to remove obstacles to increased production and, with the full agreement of employers and work-people, provision has been made to postpone the restoration of pre-war trade practices in industry.
"The war-time measures for the prevention and settlement of trade disputes have been withdrawn and replaced by provisions more appropriate to peacetime conditions.
"Legislation which will be of great benefit to a large number of My People has been passed to augment retirement pensions and the provision for widowed mothers and for children under the National Insurance Acts. National Assistance scales have been increased and improvements made in certain supplementary allowances paid to war pensioners.
"Increases have been granted in the retired pay and pensions of My Regular Forces.
"An Act has been passed to safeguard the civil interests of My Reserve and Auxiliary Forces.
"Provision has been made for the setting up of a Courts-Martial Appeal Court to hear appeals against convictions by courts-martial.
"My Ministers have continued to develop the organisation of the Civil Defence Services and have been in consultation with representatives of industry and commerce about civil defence in industrial and commercial undertakings.
"I gave My assent to legislation to make temporary provision for the protection of the occupiers of certain classes of leasehold property in Great Britain.
"An Act was passed which extends the powers and duties of the Forestry Commissioners to establish and maintain adequate reserves of growing trees.
"A measure has been passed to provide more effective means of dealing with the poaching of salmon and trout in Scotland.
"Further sums were made available for the development of the Colonial territories and the welfare of My peoples there.
"Progress has been made in the consolidation of the Statute Law.
"I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may attend you."
Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read.
After which The LORD CHANCELLOR said:
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, by virtue of His Majesty's Commission, under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, we do, in His Majesty's name, and in obedience to His Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday, the 23rd day of October next, to be then here holden, and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday, the 23rd day of October next.
End of the Second Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the fifteenth year of the Reign of His Majesty King George VI.
The Parliament was dissolved by Royal Proclamation on Friday, October 5, 1951.