§ 3.5 p.m.
§ LORD MABANEMy 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 the correct official title for this country is Britain, or Great Britain, or the United Kingdom, or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or some other title; and whether a recent change of title has been made and, if so, when.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD CARRINGTON)My Lords. the official description, as used in the Sovereign's Title and in formal international Agreements, is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. There has been no recent change. But since this country is often referred to informally as Britain, High Commissioners and Her Majesty's Representatives in foreign countries have been instructed to adopt the terms "Britain" and "British" for semiofficial purposes and in their day-to-day dealings with the Governments to which they are accredited.