§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, with permission, I should like to repeat a Statement which my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has just made in another place. His words were:
"I should like to make a Statement about the renewed Proclamation of Emergency under Section 1 of the Emergency Powers Act 1920.
"Under the powers conferred by the Act fresh Regulations have been made which, with one exception, renew the Regulations made on the 23rd of May. That exception, Regulation 21, provides an additional power to direct British airlines to carry essential passengers and goods.
"The House will be aware that under the Regulations"—
that is, the existing Regulations—
"the Government have today established port emergency committees. The functions which these committees will be authorised to exercise, on behalf of the Minister of Transport, will initially be confined to the power to regulate the admission of ships of any class or any specified ship to the ports. As I explained to the House on Monday, it has not been necessary as yet to use any of the other powers.
325 "The House will, of course, have the opportunity early next week to debate the Proclamation of the State of Emergency and to give its approval to the Regulations. I hope on that occasion, if I catch your eye, Mr. Speaker, to make a fuller statement on all aspects of the dispute and the action which is being taken."
My Lords, that concludes the Prime Minister's Statement. I should add that, after consultation through the usual channels, it has been agreed that we in this House should consider these Regulations on Tuesday next, June 28.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble Earl the Leader of the House for having repeated this Statement. In the circumstances, I do not think that any of your Lordships would expect anything other than a renewal of the State of Emergency; and I, for one, noting that we shall be able to discuss this matter on Tuesday, will reserve anything I have to say until then.
LORD REAMy Lords, may I join in thanking the noble Earl the Leader of the House for repeating the Prime Minister's Statement? There is one small point I should like to ask him to elucidate, if he can. I am not quite clear—it may be my own stupidity—whether it is now intended to include Regulation 21 in the other Regulations, so that it may automatically be renewed when necessary. I gather that the other Regulations were necessary and have been automatically renewed. Do we have to take special steps in the case of Regulation 21?
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDNo, my Lords. I should say that I am grateful to the noble Lords the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Liberal Party. I would only say that this exception, Regulation 21, as it will now appear in the new Regulations, will provide an additional power.
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDIt will be on the same footing.