Lords Sitting of 27 October 1964

PARLIAMENT
2.30 p.m.
Opened by Commission, the Royal Commissioners being The LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD GARDINER), The LORD PRIVY SEAL (The EARL OF LONGFORD), The LORD CARRINGTON, THE EARL OF LISTOWEL, and The LORD REA.
Then, the Commons being at the Bar, The LORD CHANCELLOR said: My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, we have it in command from Her Majesty to let you know that, as soon as the Members of both Houses shall be sworn, the causes of Her Majesty calling this Parliament will be declared to you; and it being necessary that a Speaker of the House of Commons should be first chosen, it is Her Majesty's pleasure that you, Members of the House of Commons, repair to the place where you are to sit, and there proceed to the choice of some proper person to be your Speaker; and that you present such person, whom you shall so choose, here to-morrow at half-past two o'clock for Her Majesty's Royal approbation.
The Commons then withdrew.
House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.
The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
Prayers—Read by the Lord Bishop of St. Albans

ROLL OF THE LORDS
The LORD CHANCELLOR acquainted the House that the Clerk of the Parliaments had prepared a Roll of the Lords: the same was laid on the Table.
Ordered, That the said Roll be printed.
The Lord Chancellor, singly in the first place—Took the Oath.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE
The LORD CHANCELLOR: My Lords, your Lordships will recall that in accordance with Standing Order No. 21 of the House it is my duty to report to the House the terms of the letter which my predecessor in office wrote to Peers on the issue of Writs for the calling of the new Parliament. The letter was despatched on the twenty-fifth day of September last and its text will be available in the OFFICIAL REPORT and in the Minutes of to-day's Proceedings.
Following is the letter referred to:
HOUSE OF LORDS,
S.W.I.
25th September, 1964
MY LORD,

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

  LEAVE OF ABSENCE
  Standing Order No. 21, a copy of which I enclose, directs that, on the issue of writs for the calling of a new Parliament, the Lord Chancellor shall in writing request every Lord to whom he issues a writ to answer whether or not he wishes to apply for leave of absence. Your Lordship is accordingly requested on the

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  receipt of this letter to complete the enclosed form and return it to the Clerk of the Parliaments in the accompanying envelope.
  Leave of absence may be applied for now either for the forthcoming Session or for the whole of the forthcoming Parliament. It will also be noted that the Standing Order provides that a Lord may apply for leave of absence at any time during a Parliament, either for the remainder of the Session in which the application is made, or for the remainder of the Parliament.
  Your Lordship will further observe that the terms of the Standing Order indicate that Lords who have been granted Leave of Absence are expected not to attend the sittings of the House until their leave has expired or has sooner ended, except for the purpose of taking the Oath of Allegiance. It is open to any Lord who has obtained leave of absence to terminate it on giving at least one month's notice to the Clerk of the Parliaments; the House itself may terminate it at shorter notice.
  It may be convenient to your Lordship it I quote the following passage from paragraph 4 of the Report of the Select Committee on Leave of Absence, which was approved by the House on 24th April 1958.
  "The Committee have given much consideration to the question of whether there should be a closer definition of 'regular attendance'. The Committee considered that this was neither possible nor desirable. They recognise that this must be a matter for individual interpretation. But in framing the Standing Order the Committee have taken account of the position of Peers who are engaged whole-time in the professions and in industry and of others who have extensive commitments in local govern-
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  ment or in other voluntary work. They realise that these are unable to devote more than a partial service to the House. They recall that such Peers have in the past made valuable contributions, based on their own knowledge and experience, to the work of the House in debates, in the revision of Bills and in Private Bill and other Select Committees. They believe that the House would be reluctant to lose the services of such Peers and that Peers in this position need not feel themselves under any obligation, in consequence of their inability to attend regularly, to apply for leave of absence."
  I am. My Lord,
  Your Lordship's Obedient Servant,
  DILHORNE. C.
  Several Lords—Took the Oath.
  Certain Lords—Affirmed.
  The Lord Birkett—Sat first in Parliament after the death of his father.
  The Earl Howe—Sat first in Parliament after the death of his father.
  The Lady Nairne—Sat first in Parliament pursuant to the Peerage Act, 1963.
  Several Lords—Took the Oath.
  House adjourned at six o'clock.