§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD DILHORNE)My Lords, it is my duty to notify your Lordships that I have received the following letter from Sir Victor Goodman:
Dear Lord Chancellor,It is my duty to request you to announce to the House that I have asked the Prime Minister to submit my resignation as Clerk of the Parliaments as from the 16th of June to Her Majesty The Queen and that Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to accept it.I have served on the staff of the House of Lords continuously for over 43 years and will leave the House with the greatest regret. I have, however, acted on medical advice.It has been a very great privilege to serve the House, and I would be grateful if you would convey to the House my deep appreciation of the kindness and consideration I have received from Members of the House on so many occasions.Yours sincerely,VICTOR GOODMAN.Ordered, That the letter lie on the Table, and he entered on the Journals.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, it is my further duty to notify your Lordships that Her Majesty The Queen has been pleased to appoint Mr. David Stephens, Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, to succeed Sir Victor from that date.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL AND MINISTER FOR SCIENCE (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)My Lords, I know the whole House will have heard of the resignation of the Clerk of the Parliaments with deep regret, and I know that they would wish to express to him the appreciation of the House, both collectively and individually, for his long and distinguished service to us all. I am sure that those of us who have had, as most of us have, contact with his office would wish 952 to express a personal word of thanks for the very many kindnesses and deep learning which he has placed at our service. I have examined the precedents, and I find that the proper course is for me to put down on the Order Paper a Resolution in appropriate terms for the first day after the Whitsun Recess, when also the new Clerk will be sworn in.