§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements are being made for a memorial service in London to the victims of the Aberfan disaster.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD CHAMPION)My Lords, my right honourable friend, the Secretary of State for Wales, was approached by a few individuals last week about the possibility of a memorial service in London. He indicated that he felt that the initiative for such a service should come from the London Welsh community, but that in the event of a service being held, the Welsh Office would be very pleased to give what help it could.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord for that sympathetic reply. May I ask him whether he would request the Secretary of State for Wales to discuss the whole matter with the President of the London Welsh Association so that a suitable place of worship could be designated for this service? In view of the large number of London Welsh people and of our English friends and representatives from foreign countries who I am sure will wish to be present, it appears to me that such a service ought to be held in Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedra], Central Hall, Westminster, or the Westminster Chapel.
§ LORD CHAMPIONMy Lords, I am sure that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Wales would be happy to meet the President of the Association, which can I think properly be 428 regarded as speaking for Wales in this connection. Should any representation come from that body or its President, I am sure that the Secretary of State for Wales would be most happy to do what he could to ensure that there was a satisfactory outcome regarding such an unhappy matter.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord.