§ 3.43 p.m.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, may I ask the Deputy Leader of the House, on Business, whether it is his intention that the answer to the Private Notice Question of the noble Lord, Lord Grimston of Westbury, will be given? I understand that a similar Question has already been dealt with in another place. I realise that the Government may have some good ideas about having all the 798 Statements at one point, but a number of noble Lords are waiting in the expectation of hearing the Statement on electricity supplies made now. There way be some rational explanation for its nonappearance. I know it is not easy to arrange these things.
§ Loan SHACKLETONMy Lords, I was asking the noble Lord, Lord Aberdare, who seemed at the moment to be in office.
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I was in office, but at that point my office was mobile. As the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition will know, this Statement will be received as soon as it starts to be made in another place.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, it has already been made.
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I have not yet received any intimation that it has been made. But I will find out.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I am referring to the P.Q. statement. The noble Lord, Lord Grimston of Westbury, has been sitting there patiently waiting for an Answer to his Question, and I understand that the Statement has already been made in another place. Perhaps communications move less rapidly with this Government.
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD DRUMALBYN)My Lords, may I ask the indulgence of the House and explain to the noble Lord that, owing to the electricity dispute, the copying machine has broken down, and all the rest of it in the Department of Trade and Industry at the moment. If he will be so good as to wait until the Statement has been made in another place, I will make it as soon as possible after that. It is being taken at the moment.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, is the noble Lord saying that at the moment he has no copy of the Statement in his possession? All he has to do is to read out the copy. I have obvious sympathy with the noble Lord. It is not easy to organise things, and perhaps this is the explanation; but I know that the Statement has been made in another place.
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, the noble Lord will be aware that Ministers do not normally come only with the Statement; there are the accompanying documents.