HL Deb 30 June 1953 vol 183 cc1-4

2.36 p.m.

EARL JOWITT

My Lords, since the House last met we have had news about the Prime Minister which has given us all great concern. Although we have our sharp differences of political opinion in this House, we have no differences whatever on either side of the House about this: that we all wish the Prime Minister an early and complete restoration to health. We should like to express our sympathy with him. We know very well that he is a willing horse, and it may well be that the burden of being both Prime Minister and, for a time, Foreign Secretary, was more than any man, even the youngest, could manage to undertake. I should be grateful if the noble Marquess who leads the House would convey to the Prime Minister our feelings in this respect.

I also noticed—and I am sure that the Government are right in this—that the conduct of foreign affairs is in the meantime to be entrusted to some senior Minister, and that the Minister selected is the Leader of your Lordships' House, Lord Salisbury. I do not know whether that is altogether a matter for congratulation, but I am sure he will do it very well. I hope he will not have to do it for very long. I was also glad to see in the newspapers to-day that Mr. Eden is making satisfactory progress. Perhaps the noble Marquess will convey to Mr. Eden also our good wishes for a complete and early restoration to health.

As for the noble Marquess, although I said that I hope he will not have to undertake the conduct of foreign affairs for long, I should like to say this. We in this House shall bask in the reflected glory of having the acting Foreign Secretary a Member of our House, which will make our foreign affairs debates, excellent though they have been in the past, of even greater importance in the future. Does it mean that the noble Marquess, while he has this duty cast upon him, will no longer he able to act as Leader of the House? We hope it does not mean that. We can quite understand that it may mean there must be, perhaps, a little more devolution than heretofore in these matters—that condition, of course, is obvious—but I should like to know whether he contemplates that he will continue to be Leader of this House.

VISCOUNT MERSEY

My Lords, may I associate noble Lords on these Benches—there are not many at the moment—with everything that has been said by the noble and learned Earl, and with the greatest sincerity wish the Prime Minister a speedy return to good health. At the same time, we feel happy that the Foreign Office will be under the guidance of the noble Marquess, who has been so long associated with it and is so admirable a Leader of your Lordships' House.

2.40 p.m.

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)

My Lords, I thank the noble and learned Earl, Lord Jowitt, and the noble Viscount, Lord Mersey, most sincerely, on behalf of the Prime Minister, for the kindly words of sympathy to which they have given expression this afternoon. I can assure them that my right honourable friend is in his usual good spirits, and I know he will particularly appreciate the expressions to which your Lordships have given voice to-day. Secondly, I should like to thank the noble and learned Earl for what he said about the Foreign Secretary. I am glad to say that all the news we are receiving about the Foreign Secretary is quite excellent, and there is every reason to suppose that, after, of course, the necessary period of convalescence, he will be back among us in his usual health and vigour.

Finally, I should like to thank the noble and learned Earl and the noble Viscount for the far too kind things they have said about me. I must confess that at the present moment I feel rather oppressed by the formidable nature of the task which will face me, pending the return of my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary. I can only say that I will do my best to cope with it in the interests of the nation as a whole. The noble and learned Earl asked what was going to be the position in this House: do I still continue to lead? The answer is, Yes, as I understand it, I certainly do. But I am sure that noble Lords will understand if there has to be, as the noble and learned Earl suggested, rather more devolution than has perhaps been usual: but that will be, I hope, for a limited period.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

My Lords, may I venture to ask the noble Marquess this question? It is obvious that the changes due to this lamentable event in regard to the Prime Minister's health have thrown an enormous burden of work upon this Chamber. We now have many members of the Cabinet in this House. We have the Foreign Office, the Defence Ministry and the Commonwealth Relations Office all represented here by their chiefs. Will it be possible so to adjust our Sittings, and if necessary to extend them, so that, through the medium of this House, the nation may be kept currently informed upon the course of international events?

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

My Lords, I can assure the noble Viscount that I will bear in mind what he has said. I realise that the situation has changed slightly since the House last met.

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