EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I should now like to repeat, with the permission of your Lordships, a Statement which has just been made in another place by my right honourable friend the Home Secretary. The Statement is as follows:
"Faced with a nation-wide stoppage in the docks, the Government must take steps to discharge its responsibility to maintain essential services and to minimise disruption which could have a serious effect on the life of the community. It has therefore thought it right to advise the Proclamation of an Emergency under Section 1 of the Emergency Powers Act 1920, as amended, followed by the making of Regulations under Section 2. Where a situation arises which carries with it a serious threat to the essentials of life to the community, it is the clear duty of the Government of the day to make use of the machinery provided by Parliament for such a contingency. The regulations under Section 2 were made this afternoon, and copies will be available to-morrow. They are on the same lines as those made in 1966 and 747 confer enabling powers on Ministers which they will only use if and when the necessity arises."
My Lords, that concludes my right honourable friend's Statement. Perhaps I may inform your Lordships that, following consultations through the usual channels, it has been agreed that we shall consider the gracious Message on Tuesday next, July 21, and that on the same day the House will also be invited to approve a Motion to continue the regulations in force in accordance with the provisions of the Emergency Powers Act 1920.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, again I thank the noble Earl for repeating the Statement. This is one of the dilemmas that we are faced with in this country. When one passes Emergency Regulations—and I think it is right and proper that there should be correct procedures, and that they are not entered into easily—one cannot help but feeling that a crisis is upon us. Clearly, it would be wrong for us at this present stage to consider that a crisis situation exists. The Government are right to take the powers that are necessary. I am not going to make any comment on what particular powers they intend to take until we see them and have an opportunity to debate them, if necessary, next week. I hope that the noble Earl will be in a position to make a Statement before we consider these Emergency Regulations next week. He may not have much to tell us, but if there is anything the House should be made aware of the situation before it is asked to approve these regulations.
§ LORD BYERSMy Lords, we on these Benches certainly support the action which the Government have taken, although, equally, we hope that the use of these powers will be minimal. Could the noble Earl tell us when he will be in a position to announce such steps as may be necessary for supporting, for instance, areas like the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, which are more dependent on the docks than any other part of the country?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, again, I should like to express my gratitude to both noble Lords for their reception of this Statement. I certainly agree with what the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, has said about the desirability of pursuing this 748 matter on Tuesday, if we have to do so, against the background of further information. I will do my best to comply with his request in that respect.
In reply to the noble Lord, Lord Byers, the question of the maintenance of essential supplies to the "outlying islands", if I may so term them (and this applies very much in the areas of concern to my noble friend Lady Tweedsmuir), is very much in the minds of Her Majesty's Ministers, and indeed in the minds of the trade unions themselves.