EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, with the leave of the House I should like to make a short Business Statement. It is expected that this House will receive the Rolls Royce (Purchase) Bill in time for your Lordships to take it on Monday, February 15. The House will therefore meet on Monday to take the Bill through all its stages. If for some reason the Bill has not reached this House from another place, a debate on the subject will arise on an Opposition Motion.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I am most grateful for the Statement made by the noble Earl. I understand that the intention is to take this Bill through all its stages on Monday; but there may well 145 be a desire on the part of some noble Lords to put down Amendments on Committee stage. If there is difficulty and the Bill has not been presented, I wonder whether the noble Earl would consider, perhaps with the noble Earl the Leader of the House, ways and means by which, if noble Lords do wish to put down Amendments, they can be put down and be made available to the House before the Committee stage is taken?
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for raising that point. Perhaps we may consider this through the usual channels to see whether we can find a way to satisfy the House.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I was expecting a Statement from the noble Earl the Chief Whip as to the possibility of a Statement later this afternoon on the Court of Inquiry into the Central Electricity dispute.
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, I must apologise to the House. I should have informed the House that there will be a Statement at a suitable moment after half past three.