HL Deb 26 July 1960 vol 225 cc706-7
EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, may I take this opportunity of informing the House that we shall have to sit on Friday? I informed the House yesterday that we should be rising on Thursday, but it has now proved necessary to have the Royal Commission on Friday, and it will be at 12.15 p.m.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

My Lords, may I ask, as a private Member, when the list of the new Cabinet will be published?

EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, that is hardly a suitable question to address to me. There is only one person to whom that can be addressed, and that is the Prime Minister.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

Then why does he not answer it?

THE EARL OF HOME

He does not answer it because he does not at the moment happen to be in the Lords.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, may I take it that the Government will be putting no Business down on Friday?

EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, it is possible that there may be some statement, but I have no definite knowledge at the moment. If I do obtain any knowledge of it, I will let the noble Viscount know at once.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, may I ask whether, before we adjourn for the Recess, there will be some statement upon the situation in Southern Rhodesia?

THE EARL OF HOME

My Lords, if the noble Lord wants to ask that question, I should like to consider it with him or with the Leader of the Opposition. I do not contemplate any statement at the moment. As the noble Lord recognises, there are certain difficulties about Her Majesty's Government answering on the internal affairs of Southern Rhodesia. If the noble Lord wants to pursue this matter, I should like to consider the form of the Question.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl for his courtesy, but I would suggest that it is not only a question of the internal situation. I would ask the noble Earl to consider the wider implications of the serious troubles that appear to be arising in Southern Rhodesia at the moment.

THE EARL OF HOME

My Lords, of course I must be within the Rules when we discuss these matters, and therefore before any Question is put on the Paper I should like to consider it with the noble Lord.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

My Lords, will there be an opportunity for this House to discuss the question of moving the Foreign Minister into this House?

THE EARL OF HOME

I think we had better wait and see what happens.

LORD REA

My Lords, does that mean that something will happen before we depart?

THE EARL OF HOME

My Lords, the newspapers inform me that something is likely.