§ 2.35 p.m.
§ EARL JOWITTMy Lords, may ask Her Majesty's Government the Question of which I have given private notice? We have all read what was said yesterday in another place, but may I ask whether the Government have any further statement to make on the tragedy of the recent floods that have taken place in this country and in the Netherlands?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (VISCOUNT SWINTON)My Lords, of course if the House had been sitting yesterday I should have made a statement similar to that which was made in another place. I am not quite sure whether another statement will be made to-day. Everything that can be done is being done, but if the Home Secretary or another Minister is making a report on progress in another place later on to-day, I will gladly repeat that report in this House. I am at the moment trying to find out whether a statement is being made to-day. I think your Lordships would wish that if any statements are made in another place, and this House is sitting, then those statements should be repeated here. I am sure we are all anxious to know how this tragedy is being met. Our deep sympathy goes out to all those who have suffered, not forgetting the Americans, some of whom, unfortunately, have lost their lives and others of whom have been, with our own troops, most active on the spot in rendering such succour as is possible.
§ EARL JOWITTI am grateful to the noble Viscount for his reply. I asked this Question because I thought the House would like to have an opportunity of identifying itself with what the noble Viscount has just said and in expressing deepest sympathy with all those who have sustained loss during this tragic 130 week-end, a week-end which has seen the loss of the British Railways ship and also these terrible floods. I know that the House will desire to extend sympathy not only to the people of this country and to the Americans who have lost their lives here, but to the people of the Netherlands and of Belgium, and also to express their appreciation of the untiring efforts which the military and civil authorities have made to alleviate the distress and the damage which has been caused.