§ 3.50 p.m.
§ LORD CHAMPIONMy Lords, this might be a convenient moment for me on behalf of my noble friend the Leader of the House, who unfortunately is unwell, to repeat a Statement which is being made in another place by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister. His words are:
"As the House knows from the Communiqué at the end of my visit to Moscow in February, I invited the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union, Mr. A. N. Kosygin, to visit this country as the guest of Her Majesty's Government. Mr. Kosygin expressed his thanks for this invitation, which he accepted; and I am now glad to be able to inform the House that it has now been agreed that Mr. Kosygin will arrive in Britain for an official visit on the 6th of February, 1967."
My Lords, that concludes the Prime Minister's Statement.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I am sure it would be the wish of everybody in the House to send a message to the noble Earl, the Leader of the House, that we hope he is not seriously ill but will be back very shortly in his accustomed place.
§ LORD CARRINGTONEqually everybody in the House will welcome the news which the noble Lord, Lord Champion, has just given to the House. These visits are always a good thing, particularly those by Communist leaders who come to London and see how we live. I am sure that all noble Lords will hope that the visit will be both fruitful and successful.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, on behalf of my noble friends on these Benches, I should like to associate myself with the two messages which the noble Lord, Lord Carrington, has suggested should be conveyed.
§ LORD CHAMPIONMy Lords, my task is an easy one. I will, of course, convey the messages which have been given by the two noble Lords, and I thank them both for what they have said.