HL Deb 17 March 1971 vol 316 cc440-2

2.47 p.m.

VISCOUNT MERSEY

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 will return to the old and excellent custom of not meeting for business in the Upper House on Derby Day.]

EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, although I can make no commitment for the future, I can assure your Lordships that this year the House will stand adjourned on Derby day.

VISCOUNT MERSEY

My Lords, I am very grateful for the Answer from my noble friend. As Derby Day happens to fall this year during the Whitsun Recess, like the bookmakers he is giving very little away. May I ask whether he does not think that this would be an extremely good custom to return to, at any rate during the period of this present Government?

EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, I think that when the old custom was in regular use there were probably more of your Lordships who were apt to attend the racing at Epsom than there are to-day, and I should not like to commit myself to even suggesting to Her Majesty's Government that they should.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, is there any reason why this House should follow the fashionable custom of going on a one-day strike?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether he accepts the implication of his noble friend's Question; namely, whereas the rest of the people are encouraged to work, the nobility are not expected to do so?

LORD TAYLOR OF MANSFIELD

My Lords, would the noble Earl agree that it this request were acceded to, it might be regarded outside your Lordships' House as the equivalent of a one-day strike?

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, would my noble friend anyhow try to avoid the old, but not at all good, custom of putting down all Scottish business on Derby day?

EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, in reply to that last supplementary question, there are I believe certainly as many, if not more, of your Lordships from England who are interested in Derby day as there are from Scotland, and therefore I have to keep a very careful balance on this. Another year I will endeavour to have a small selection of both.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, as the noble Earl is aware, the Government are inclined to sack impartial arbitrators. May I ask him whether he has considered that the noble Lord, Lord Wigg, might arbitrate on this matter?

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, does not the noble Earl think that Questions like this bring the House of Lords into ridicule?

EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, one might possibly look on this as a slightly frivolous Question, but on the other hand a little humour in this House at times is not altogether a bad thing.