§ 3.42 p.m.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, before the debate continues, may I address a few words to the noble Lord, Lord Aberdare? It has just been brought to my attention that in another place an important Statement has been made on the Liverpool Docks, a matter which I know gives considerable concern to Members in all sections of this House. When a Statement of this nature is made in another place it is the usual practice for it to be repeated here. We on this side of the House were not informed that a Statement was being made—as I say, I heard about it only in the last few minutes—and I feel that, not only on behalf of my noble friends on this side 348 but on behalf of noble Lords in all parts of tile House I should issue a very severe word of protest that the House is being treated in this way. Whether it makes any sense to have the Statement repeated at this stage, I wonder. But certainly I shall have a look at the Statement, and if we feel it necessary for the matter to be raised and discussed we will take the options which are open to us to enable that to be done.
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, I apologise to the noble Lord and to the House. There has, I fear, been some breakdown in the machinery between the other place and this House. The noble Lord said that he, on his side of the House, did not know about the Statement. Neither did I, my Lords, until a very few minutes ago. I will certainly go into the matter, and if the noble Lord, on seeing the Statement which has been made, considers that it should be repeated in this House, I shall certainly be pleased for that to happen. I can only say that this was nothing deliberate on the part of noble Lords on this side of the House. It was entirely a breakdown in the machinery, for which I am very sorry.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, in view of what the noble Lord has said, I fully acquit him of any discourtesy to this House—I should never dream that he would treat us in that way. But if there has been a mistake, as clearly there has, I hope the noble Lord will nut it right and that we shall never be nut in this position again.
§ LORD BOOTHBYMy Lords, would the noble Lord be good enough to repeat the subject of the Statement which was being made? Some of us did not quite catch it.
§ LORD SHEPHERDIt is about the Liverpool Docks.