§ 3.5 p.m.
THE EARL OF ARRANMy Lords, with the permission of the House, may I express my deep regret for remarks made by me which appeared in a national newspaper yesterday? Although the report was substantially correct—and I must emphasise this—it quoted me as saying certain things which are not true. My remarks were not intended for publication; nevertheless, they were printed and I must take full personal responsibility for them. I ask your Lordships' indulgence for this breach of good manners, and I am most sorry.
§ EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Earl for making the apology in the House. We are not oversensitive on the Opposition Front Bench. We had been talking about sleepiness in the House. I think I ought to pay tribute to the Lord Great Chamberlain who everyday sends to me and, I believe, to the Leader of the House a report on the state of the temperature of the House so that any corrections we want may be made. I have not myself noticed that there was any more sleepiness on the Opposition Front Bench than we sometimes see—with great sympathy for the individual—elsewhere when a noble Lord, who has been really studying some question and following the debate closely, "drops off." I do not think this is confined to one part of the House.