HL Deb 08 August 1966 vol 276 cc1579-80

2.43 p.m.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, the Government still hope that we will pass the Prices and Incomes Bill on Thursday. One must anticipate a fair number of Amendments, and in view of the public declaration by the Liberal party at the week-end, a number from noble Lords on the Liberal Benches. In these circumstances, it has been thought right that the House should meet at 11 a.m. on Thursday to commence consideration of this Bill.

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, may I say this? This is, of course, another example of the mess that the Government have got Parliament and themselves into, and it is another chapter in the whole disgraceful story of the way they have treated this House on the prices and incomes policy. If I may say so, I noticed in one of this morning's papers that I was said to be co-operative in getting the Government legislation through. I hope I have been no such thing. The Conservative Party in this House is in a majority, and we intend to behave ourselves responsibly and we do not intend to obstruct for the sake of obstruction, but I must warn noble Lords opposite that this sort of treatment of the House cannot go on, and unless noble Lords opposite treat this House with a good deal more consideration than they have done over the prices and incomes policy they will find they get very little co-operation.

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE EARL OF LONGFORD)

My Lords, I well understand that in view of the tributes paid to the noble Lord, Lord Carrington, he feels he must speak very strongly. It may not have been during the week-end, but in the past I have referred to him as co-operative, and it may be that in the future I shall refer to him as co-operative. I would never think it insulting to the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition to describe him as co-operative; I think it would be worse to describe him as unco-operative. I hope he will not be offended if we go on hoping that he will be as co-operative in the future as he has been in the past.

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, I think it insulting if I am told I am co-operative in passing some of this dreadful legislation through Parliament.