THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I wonder whether the right reverend Prelate the Lord Bishop of Chichester and the House will permit me here a slight irregularity in our proceedings. I think that the speech which we are about to hear from the right reverend Prelate is the last that he will make in your Lordships' House, after twenty-one years of consecutive service on the Bishops' Bench—an honourable record, indeed, and one which I feel must be most unusual. During that time he has been a fearless critic on matters of foreign policy, and he has distributed his rebukes impartially, on all Governments. We have admired his honest, forthright stand on those matters in which he is interested, and we have been stimulated by his criticism. I am sure that the whole House would wish the right reverend Prelate to take with him into retirement our good wishes for his health and happiness.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I would heartily endorse the sentiments expressed by the noble Earl the Leader of the House. We have often listened to the right reverend Prelate, and although we have not always agreed with him I have sometimes felt that he has been much nearer to us than to noble Lords opposite. We admire his work in attempting to get religious unity in Europe and for those who are working in Germany for the Kirchentag. We in the workers' movement never forget that the right reverend Prelate rendered such service to organised workers that he was made an honorary member of a trade union. I do not know of any other Bishop in your Lordships' House who is in a like position of being able to say: "I am a trade unionist." I express my regret that, for his own reason, that of resigning, he will no longer be speaking to us in this Chamber with the authority that he does now. I hope that he will have a long, fruitful and pleasant retirement.
LORD TERRINGTONMy Lords, I am sure that noble Lords who might have been but are not at the moment on these Benches would like to associate themselves with what has been said by the noble Earl the Leader of the House and by the noble Viscount the Leader of the Opposition.
THE LORD BISHOP OF CHICHESTERMy Lords, I do not often blush, but I am tempted to do so when I hear the very kind remarks from the Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition and 'the representative of the Liberal Party. I deeply appreciate the great kindness of your Lordships in speaking thus in this exceptional way. May I also say how much I have appreciated the forbearance and consideration of the House during the twenty-one years that I have tried to serve your Lordships? Thank you very much.