§ 3.12 p.m.
THE DUKE OF ATHOLLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied that the present system of having a "movable" Remembrance Day is preferable to having it fixed on 11th November (as pre-war) or on some other suitable day, such as VE-Day.]
THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (EARL JELLICOE)My Lords, the date of Remembrance Day was very carefully considered by the then Government in 1945 and 1946, in consultation with representatives of the Churches and the British Legion and with Commonwealth Governments. Many possibilities, including those suggested by my noble friend, were considered. The noble Earl, Lord Attlee, announced on 19th June, 1946, that His Late Majesty had approved a recommendation that Remembrance Sunday should be celebrated on the Sunday before 11th November, unless the 11th or 12th November were a Sunday. In 1956, my noble friend Lord Avon announced an alteration to the rule by which Remembrance Sunday would always be observed in future on the second Sunday in November. Her Majesty's Government are not persuaded that it would be right to make any further alteration now.