HL Deb 13 January 1971 vol 314 cc94-7

2.48 p.m.

LORD MAELOR

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 whether they are aware that the Island of Bardsey is to be sold by auction and, in view of its great historical associations, whether they will undertake to secure this island for the nation at a fair price.]

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are aware of the proposed sale, but have no intention of buying Bardsey Island.

LORD MAELOR

My Lords, is my noble friend aware—I refer to him as "my noble friend" because we are compatriots, and as such inseparable, as was demonstrated in the Public Gallery yesterday afternoon—that the last Labour Government bought the Mountain of Snowdon and the surrounding land, including 20 farms, for the nation, and that Snowdon has not the religious associations that the Island of Bardsey has? Is the Minister further aware that Professor E. G. Bowen, who as he knows is the greatest authority on Celtic saints in Britain, has stated: The fame of Bardsey Island as the Afallon of Saints is frequently a recurring theme in the hagiological literature."? Is the Minister also aware that I picked this quotation up from the Highways and Byways of Wales? It reads: For many centuries"—

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS

Question!

LORD MAELOR

I am asking whether the Minister is aware of this. Perhaps he has never read the book. The quotation reads: For many centuries the island"—

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS

Speech!

LORD MAELOR

All right; wait for it ! For many centuries the island was to Welshmen what Westminster Abbey is to the Englishman—a consecrated place of entombment for the best and bravest in the land". Now if Westminster Abbey was—

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS

Order! Speech!

LORD MAELOR

If Westminster Abbey was offered for auction—and God forbid!—

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS

Order!

LORD MAELOR

Why were the Labour Government able to buy Snowdon, yet the present Goverment are not able to buy this island?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his kind opening remarks but, fond as I am of him, I would not wish to see myself chained to him. The answer to the basic part of his last question is that the previous Government were able to acquire the land in Snowdonia under Section 14 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, which relates only to land in National Parks. This island is not in a National Park.

LORD BOOTHBY

My Lords, may I ask the Minister what practical advantages would accrue to this country if we bought Bardsey Island?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, the noble Lord had better ask the noble Lord, Lord Maelor.

A NOBLE LORD

My Lords, where is Bardsey Island?

LORD BROOKE OF CUMNOR

My Lords, with regard to the religious associations of Bardsey Island, can my noble friend say whether the privilege still attaches to the inhabitants of Bardsey Island which was granted by the Almighty to the monks who lived there centuries ago, which was that of dying in order of seniority?

LORD STRANGE

My Lords, does the noble Lord know what it would cost Her Majesty's Government to buy this island?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, I have explained that we have no powers to buy this island.

LORD BOOTHBY

Thank God for that!

VISCOUNT ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, would it not be a good idea to make this island into a National Park? Then perhaps we could buy it. It is worth being a National Park.

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, it is already included in an area of outstanding beauty. It is some 27 miles away from the nearest National Park.

LORD MAELOR

My Lords, the Minister may not know, but the cost of buying this island is £30,000. In reference to what was said by the noble Lord, Lord Brooke, the inhabitants of the island have another privilege, too—or did have until very recently—that is, they did not pay income tax, and they also had their own king, known as "King Love".