§ LORD PETHICK-LAWRENCEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make a statement about the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference to be held in London later this year.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE FOR COM MONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE)My Lords, as the House knows, the Seventh Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference will be held in London in September of this year. Her Majesty the Queen has graciously consented to open the Conference in Westminster Hall on Monday, September 25. Members of both Houses will be invited to attend this ceremony. Her Majesty has given permission for the Conference to hold its other sessions in the Royal Gallery. This Conference will be a meeting of great importance, and I am sure your Lordships on all sides of the House will join the Association in giving a warm welcome to our fellow members from overseas and will do all they can to make this meeting an outstanding success.
§ LORD PETHICK-LAWRENCEMy Lords, I thank the noble Duke for his Answer, which I am sure will be of great interest to a very large number of people.