HL Deb 10 November 1970 vol 312 cc682-4

7.28 p.m.

EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, it might be for the convenience of the House if I say a word about business for the rest of the day and to-morrow. It had been represented to me by a number of Peers who wished to speak on the Southern Rhodesia Act 1965 (Continuation) Order that, in view of the length of this debate, the Motion for the approval of the Order would really be coming on too late for such an important subject. It has therefore been agreed through the usual channels that the Southern Rhodesia (Continuation) Order should be taken as first business tomorrow, but that the Southern Rhodesia (Matrimonial Jurisdiction) Order will still be taken to-night.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, if that has been agreed through the usual channels—and I have the greatest sympathy for the jam which the noble Earl was in—I am bound to say that the decision is very hard on the Metrication debate (I know that that is a Government Motion) and it is likely that more speakers will come in on the Rhodesia debate. The Chief Whip has only recently returned to his onerous duties, and perhaps he does not have quite the sure touch which he had before, but I think this is a little regrettable and there may be some protests from speakers in the Metrication debate. It looks probable that to-morrow evening we shall again sit rather late. It will be the speakers on that Metrication debate who will suffer; and I know that one noble Lord will not be able to speak to-morrow because he will not be here.

LORD ALPORT

My Lords, as a private Member who was on the list to speak in the debate on the Order later this evening, may I say that I feel it right to make at any rate some protest against this very sudden change in the business of the House? Your Lordships are not paid Members of the House of Lords or of Parliament: we do our best to attend and contribute to those subjects on which we hope we may help to promote more understanding. We make arrangements specially in order to attend in accordance with the business about which we have been told some days before, and a sudden change of this sort very often prevents Members from carrying out at any rate what they regard, rightly or wrongly, as their duties. In my case this will certainly be so. It is also unfair to some of the younger Members—maiden speakers, for instance, who are all keyed up and ready to make their maiden speech—suddenly to find that the business has been changed, for reasons which I do not understand, with the result that they have to go through all the period of waiting again. Although I understand that this is something which has been agreed to by both the Front Benches, I feel it should not be allowed to pass without a protest, at any rate, from a private Member.

EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, I have great sympathy with what the noble Lord, Lord Alport, has said, but my task is to try to organise business so that it is as convenient as possible for as many Members of the House as possible. Inevitably, if there is a change it is bound to be inconvenient for some Members; but I must be guided by the majority of those affected, and in this case I think I was.