§ 3.50 p.m.
THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, if the noble Lord, Lord Silkin, will allow me to intervene I will not stand between him and the House for more than a few moments, but I think that the House would like to know the names of the Government, Parliamentary people to serve on the Monckton Commission which have been announced by the Prime Minister in another place. The names are as follows: my noble friend Lord Crathorne; the Right Honourable Sir Lionel Heald, Privy Counsellor, Member of Parliament for Chertsey; and the Right Honourable Hugh Molson, Privy Counsellor, Member of Parliament for the High Peak.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, am I to understand that that completes the list of Privy Counsellors to be appointed?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, as the noble Viscount knows, we were not able to complete the Parliamentary representation in the way we had hoped because his Party felt unable to serve. Therefore there are three places vacant. If the Prime Minister felt it wise or necessary to reinforce the Commission in any way I have no doubt he would do so from the wide field of independent people outside.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I do not want to delay the House, but I hope that the noble Earl the Leader of the House will have a look at the statement of Sir Roy Welensky of yesterday, which seems to justify the attitude of my Party. He makes statements which do not quite agree with the Preamble to the 1953 Act.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I will look at the statement made by Sir Roy Welensky, but I think that that has nothing to do with the answer I have given to-day.
§ EARL WINTERTONHear, hear! Or with this House.