§ 2.47 p.m.
§ EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, with the permission of the House I should like to raise a matter relating to the traditional practice of the conduct of this House, about which my noble friends are concerned. We do not recollect any previous period in which it was so likely 491 that the Leader of the House would be constantly absent on other business. The Government have told us there is a Deputy Leader, and we have great respect for the noble Earl, Lord Dundee. But this is not the point at all, although we all have great respect for him. We do not know any precedent where the Leader of the House was not able to be in regular attendance and when it was other than a Cabinet Minister who replied to questions of leadership in the House.
We have raised and talked among ourselves about the matter. In the absence of the noble Viscount the Leader of the House, I first raised it privately some two or three weeks ago with the Foreign Secretary, and I have since had private conversation with the noble Viscount the Leader of the House. We have heard nothing since, and again for the whole of this week we shall be without a Cabinet Minister leading the House. I should like to ask when we can have some information as to the intention of the Government in this matter with regard to the long and traditional practice that the leadership of the House is in the hands of a member of the Cabinet.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF DUNDEE)My Lords, I am sorry that this question could not have been raised when my noble friend the Leader of the House was here, as he will be very soon. This week my noble friend is making an important tour of the North-East of England for which, as your Lordships know, he has special responsibilities. He will be back here in his place next week. In fact, he will be speaking in a debate on Monday next on the Motion of my noble friend Lord Eccles on Industrial Training. He intends to make three or four speeches in the next three weeks. I do not think he expects to be in the North-East again until March 4. As for the other part of the noble Earl's question, I cannot say anything in reply to that except that when my noble friend the Leader of the House is absent it is my duty to do my best, with the cooperation of your Lordships, to represent him, in spite of my many shortcomings, of which I am fully conscious.
LORD REAMy Lords, may I point out that of course the question raised 492 by the noble Earl the Leader of the Opposition, with which we have some sympathy, does not reflect in the slightest upon the Leader of the House himself, for whom we have great admiration? It is just a matter of Government policy and the convenience and tradition of this House. I should not like it to be thought for a moment that we have any criticism of the noble Viscount who leads the House.
§ EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am quite sure that that is the opinion of the whole House. We have no complaint in that direction at all. What we complain about is the danger of long absences because of the extra work which has been placed upon the noble Viscount, and that we should have any other arrangement than the traditional one, which is that the leadership of the House in such circumstances falls for the time being into the hands of a member of the Cabinet. What I suggest is no reflection at all upon the noble Earl, Lord Dundee, who is a most agreeable person and, I think, very popular in the House.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, may I ask a question? I agree with my noble friend. Personally, I think the noble Earl is a charming man. On the other hand may I just ask him, now that we have a kind of "Lord Pooh Bah" as our Leader, whether he can tell me who will answer for the Minister for Science; who will answer for the Minister of Sport; and who will answer for the Lord President of the Council while he is away?
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, if it is any comfort to the noble Lady, my noble friend the Leader of the House intends to speak next Monday on Lord Eccles's Motion on industrial training. Then he will speak in the general debate on unemployment which I think it has been agreed shall take place on the Second Reading of the National Insurance Bill; and on February 27 he will initiate an important debate on science. I do not think he will be called again until March 4. His duties in the North-East are of very great importance to the country. He is rendering a public service of a very great order in being there, and I would respectfully suggest that any further information about this matter, which your Lordships are, of course, well 493 entitled to have, might be better left until my noble friend returns, because I am sure he will be able to reply both fully and satisfactorily to any questions.
§ EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I hope the House will not think I am being unduly pressing in this matter. As I say, I have had two private conversations, with both the Foreign Secretary and the Leader of the House about this subject. It is only because he is away again all this week that we have not heard anything arising out of this matter. But I think it right for the House as a whole to see whether or not the traditional practice of the House is to be continued.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, I fully appreciate the noble Earl's concern for the convenience and dignity of your Lordships' House in this matter.