§ 2.36 p.m.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (VISCOUNT SWINTON)My Lords, I have the honour to inform you of an important change in our programme of Business this week. Noble Lords opposite, who had intended to initiate a Foreign Affairs debate on Thursday, on the understanding that they would have the advantage of being able to study the Prime Minister's statement in another place on the Bermuda Conference before our debate here, have now decided that as the debate in another place is to take place on Thursday, and not on Wednesday and Thursday, as they had originally anticipated, they have no alternative but to defer the debate on their Motion until after the Christmas Recess. The noble Lord, Lord Henderson, is therefore taking the Motion which now stands for Thursday off the Order Paper, so that at present there is no Business on the Order Paper for that day. The House will sit on Friday, December 18, at 10.55 a.m., for the Royal Commission, as arranged.
LORD RENNELLMy Lords, in view of the announcement which the noble Viscount the Acting Leader of the House has made, I give notice that I should like to reinstate for Thursday next the Motion which now stands in my name on the Paper under the heading "No day named."