§ 2.44 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can now make a statement giving the date on which this House will reassemble after the Whitsun Recess.]
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I very much regret that I cannot add to what my noble friend Lord Shackleton said on March 9.
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, I find this a little depressing. I had hoped that Her Majesty's Government would by now have seen the error of their ways and would not have encouraged the whole of both Houses of Parliament to travel on the Bank Holiday. Can the noble Lord at least give me the assurance that in future Her Majesty's Government, when choosing times and dates of Recesses, will at least start at the beginning and no longer continue this appalling habit of starting at the end and leaving the beginning completely blank?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the noble Earl must not provoke me at the beginning of the afternoon.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I think I should remind the noble Earl that on the last occasion he announced a Summer Recess he announced it on July 29, saying that the Recess would begin two days later. In the case of the Whitsun Recess of 1964 he was slightly more indulgent to your Lordships' House when he announced on May 7 that the House would rise on May 13. We are at present some weeks away from the proposed Whitsun Recess. My right honourable friend the Lord President thought it right, in the special circumstances of this year—because we are now moving away from Whitsun into what is going to be called the Spring Holiday—to indicate to the House that the Recess would be based on the new Spring Holiday and not on the old religious Whitsun. None of us knows what events may arise or what matters we may wish to discuss, 1163 and I think it a little too early for us sensibly to make any suggestions as to dates. Therefore I hope that, on reflection, the noble Earl will withdraw some of the remarks by which he sought to provoke me this afternoon.
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, I appreciate that the noble Lord cannot give at this stage, the exact period for the Recess; but in the past we have always been able to make reasonably accurate guesses as to when Recesses are likely to start. How long they are to last is, admittedly, in the lap of the Government; but most of us could make this reasonable forecast for the beginning. On this question of the day on which we are to return it seems to me that as we do not know when we are to go away, I think that at least a reasonable assurance that we should not have to travel back on a bank holiday would be of great advantage to Members of this House.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I gather that this is an occasion when a lot of people have a lot of guesses on their mind in this particular field. Of course, it is open to all noble Lords to guess; but I do not think that it is for the Government to give them any guidance on this matter.
§ A NOBLE LORD: Why not be helpful?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, we are always being helpful. In regard to the date of return, my noble friend Lord Shackleton mentioned Tuesday, May 30, but I have had representations that it might be convenient to your Lordships if we were to return on the following day. I will certainly consider this; but I would ask the House to take into account that if we were to adopt this—and there would be no difficulty if we could get some agreement—the Government would get only one day for legislation; namely the Thursday. If the House were willing to give on the Private Motions on the Wednesday and would agree to consider taking legislation on that day, it would certainly help the Government in meeting the wishes of the House. But I think noble Lords will agree that it is best not to make a firm decision at this stage. We will bear everything in mind, but will not make a firm decision because it may be that 1164 if certain circumstances should arise, many of your Lordships might wish to come back earlier.
§ LORD SOMERSMy Lords, the noble Lord said that we are some weeks away from Whitsun. Would he not agree that very often, if one is going to book a room in an hotel, one has to do it some months away? Could he not possibly urge those who are responsible for these matters to get them settled a little sooner?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the noble Lord is quite right in saying that if you go away you need some months' notice; therefore, if I give the noble Lord any information I am unlikely to help him in that particular problem. But I will certainly bear this in mind. The noble Earl has been a distinguished Government Chief Whip for many years, and he knows the difficulties as well as I am now learning them.
§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEMy Lords, could the noble Lord say when the Government will be able to plan ahead for the arrangements of this House?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, we are always planning ahead.