§ Message from the Commons, That they have appointed a Committee of Eleven Members to join with a Committee of this House to consider whether any, and if so what, changes should be made in the rights of Peers of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain or of the United Kingdom, and of Peeresses in their own right, to sit in either House of Parliament, or to vote at Parliamentary elections, and whether, and if so under what conditions, a Peer should be enabled to surrender a peerage permanently or for his lifetime or for any less period having regard to the effects and consequences thereof;
- That they have made the fallowing Orders:
- That the Committee have power to send for persons, papers, and records;
- That the Committee have power to report from time to time;
- That Five be the quorum;
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL AND MINISTER FOR SCIENCE (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. We debated the general issues of policy underlying this Motion at considerable length very recently indeed, and therefore I do not think I should say very much in support of the Motion. The names and numbers have been the subject of very careful and close consultation between the interests involved. Perhaps the only point to which I need draw your Lordships' attention is that we have been lucky enough to secure to the Committee, in addition to the Party Members, the services of a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary.
§ Moved, That the said Message be taken into consideration forthwith and that the Lords following be named of the Committee to join with the Committee appointed by the Commons:—
- Lord Chancellor
- Marquess of Salisbury
- Earl St. Aldwyn
- Earl of Swinton
- Viscount Colville of Culross
- Viscount Alexander of Hillsborough
- Earl of Listowel
- Lord Derwent
- Lord Rea
- Lord Morton of Henryton
- Lord Silkin
- Lord Morrison of Lambeth.
- —(Viscount Hailsham.)
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am much obliged to the noble and learned Viscount. I need only formally second the Motion.
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, I have just been informed—and I am sure the House would like to join with me in saying this—that it is the noble Viscount's birthday to-day. If I had known that when I spoke a moment ago I should have referred to it then, but I am sure we should all join in wishing him many happy returns of the day.
LORD REAMy Lords, may I also support the Motion and the good wishes expressed to the noble Viscount, Lord Alexander of Hillsborough?
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ Ordered, That such Committee have power to agree with the Committee of the Commons in the appointment of a Chairman; and that Five be the quorum.
§ Leave given to the Committee to send for persons, papers, and records; and to report from time to time.
§ Then a Message was ordered to be sent to the Commons to inform them of the appointment of the said Committee by this House and to acquaint them with the said Orders.