§ 3.5 p.m.
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy 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 encourage the proposal for a fixed date for Easter.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD DERWENT)My Lords, Easter is a world-wide Christian festival, and Her Majesty's Government think that any alteration in its date needs to be preceded by agreement among the Churches. The Government would welcome any action by the Churches which might lead to such an agreement.
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, as some Churches agree and others are not against the fixing of the date for Easter, is not the ball, so to speak, now in the layman's court? And as the United Kingdom has, by circumstances, no longer the ability to take its former part in great world affairs, is not this one of those world matters in which initiative might be taken by Her Majesty's Government (to repeat the word in my Question) to encourage this matter, rather than just to await events?
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I think my noble friend is a little ahead of events. There is, so far as I know, no agreement yet announced by any Church for this change.