HL Deb 08 July 1970 vol 311 cc150-1

2.42 p.m.

LORD SEGAL

My 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 which Gulf is referred to in the sixth paragraph of the gracious Speech.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN)

My Lords, I do not think that there can really be very much doubt about this in the context, but as the noble Lord has asked the Question and wants greater precision, it is of course the Gulf geographically situated between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, as this is the first Opposition Question to be asked in this new Parliament, may I offer my congratulations to the noble Marquess on his appointment? May I also thank him for his assurance that it is the Persian Gulf, since from the rest of the paragraph it might well appear that the Gulf of Tonkin was referred to. Is the noble Marquess aware that "the Gulf" usually refers to the Gulf of Mexico, as in the case of "the Gulf Oil Company"? Further, is it part of the foreign policy of the new Government while they remain on the Persian Gulf to alter one of the traditional place names in that area?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his kind words of congratulation to myself. I am aware that the word "Gulf" means different things to certain people in different areas of the world, but I think the noble Lord will agree that in his context the omission of the prefix "Persian" is now becoming perfectly normal, as indeed it is in the case of the English Channel.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, if the Government really intend to join the Common Market, do they propose to alter the term "English Channel" into "the Channel" in order not to offend French susceptibilities?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

I think, my Lords, we are straying on to somewhat wider ground.