§ 2.39 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will use their influence to bring about a cease-fire in the Nigerian-Biafran war, with a view to providing conditions for the relief of hunger as a preliminary to negotiations for a political settlement.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD SHEPHERD)My Lords, with the permission of the House, at a convenient moment after 3.30 p.m. I will be making a Statement on the arrangements for supply of relief in Nigeria.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while welcoming that statement, may I ask my noble friend this question? [n view of the fact that my Question deals with other matters than merely the important question of relief, may I have an opportunity then to question him on the other matters in my Question?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, whether the noble Lord has art opportunity provided by the House must be for the House to decide, but I have never known my noble friend to miss an opportunity.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend, as his Answer to my noble friend Lord Brockway just now was somewhat ambiguous, whether it is not within our power to help negotiate a cease-fire, and could we not make an important contribution towards that end by ceasing to supply armaments?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, that is a point which the noble Baroness and my noble friend Lord Brockway have raised many times, and I feat that I have nothing to add to what I have said on the matter previously.