§ 3.50 p.m.
§ LORD CHAMPIONMy Lords, perhaps it will be convenient if I now answer the Private Notice Question which the noble Lord, Lord Drumalbyn, asked at the beginning of Business. If I may, I will use the same words as my right honourable friend the Minister of Labour:
"I have seen representatives of the Shipping Federation this afternoon and I shall be seeing the Executive of the National Union of Seamen to-morrow. In this situation I would prefer to say nothing more."
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, may I thank the noble Lord for having repeated the Minister's Answer. In view of the delicacy of the situation and the importance of the issue to the nation, I, for my part, should not like to say anything which might in any way prove to be untimely or harmful. All I would ask the noble Lord is whether he would be so good as to keep the House informed of any developments, favourable or unfavourable?—and, of course, we all hope they will be favourable.
§ LORD CHAMPIONMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his understanding approach to my somewhat limited Answer. We will certainly endeavour to keep the House informed of anything which we think it would be of advantage to the House to know.