§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, before my noble friend the Government Chief Whip, with permission, informs the House on certain matters of business, perhaps your Lordships will allow me to say something about the form of the Royal Assent which is due to be notified later today. I think your Lordships were expecting—and certainly it had been our intention—that this should take place in the traditional form. As your Lordships know, there is a very important debate in another place; and there is a general desire, which we have discussed through the usual channels, to avoid an interruption to that debate. It has therefore not been possible to arrange for the traditional Royal Commission today. There will, of course, be 1115 a Royal Commission in the traditional style at the end of the Session in the autumn. I very much regret the change of plan because, although the undertakings were of a general kind, I think there is no doubt that the House was entitled to expect that the Royal Assent would be notified in the traditional form at the end of this Summer Session. I should like to apologise to your Lordships that this has not been possible.
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his statement. I share his regret. It is true that we had understood that we should be witnessing this traditional ceremony in its traditional form at the end of each term. But if the Government get their Parliamentary programme into a complete muddle, and if they publish a Defence White Paper which invites a Vote of Censure, then of course it is understandable that they have to rearrange their programme. I hope that this will not be a precedent for the end of next term and that the Government will be able to honour the undertaking which we had been led to believe they had given.
§ LORD BYERSMy Lords, I too should like to ask that we should not lose the traditional Royal Commission. But I think we understand that, as a matter of courtesy, it would be quite wrong to insist that the other place should interrupt a vital debate on an occasion of this kind. But I hope this will not become a precedent.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I am much obliged to noble Lords, although the noble Earl could not resist what I thought was an irrelevant "dig". The fact is that the House of Commons are liable to have a censure debate at any time. This is not something which is within the control of the Government; but I do not think we want to waste time on that. On the question of the undertaking, it was in general terms. It was, I think, anticipated that there would be rather more Royal Commissions in the traditional style in the first year than perhaps may follow in subsequent years. We certainly anticipate that there will be a Royal Assent of this kind at the end of the Session in October. While, clearly, 1116 we shall have to look at this, I note that noble Lords have said that they hope this is not to be a precedent.
EARL ST. ALDWYNThe noble Lord said that he thought there would be a Royal Commission in October. May I point out that as I understand it there has to be one in October, because the new form is applicable only to the Royal Assent to Bills and not to Prorogation.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I am sorry if I used a loose expression. There will be one in the traditional style at the end of the Session in the Autumn.
§ LORD BYERSMay I ask the noble Lord whether he can give any indication of the time at which the Royal Assent may be expected today?
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I should think it will be either at the end of business—it depends on how much progress is made—or perhaps, if we have finished the Companies Bill, before we get on to the Unstarred Questions. This is a matter which we can discuss through the usual channels. I know that my noble friend has been giving thought to it.