§ 2.43 p.m.
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, with the leave of the House, my noble friend Lord Lothian will at a convenient moment after 3.30 p.m. be making a Statement on the situation in East Pakistan. This will be followed by a Statement by my noble friend Lord Belstead on the Social Security Bill, and this again will be followed by another 1067 Statement, by my noble friend Lord Denham, on the Government's proposals for commercial radio.
I would also inform your Lordships that dinner is available this evening. In view of the number of speakers in this very important debate to-day, and the fact that we have no fewer than three Statements, I hope that your Lordships will try to confine your questions on the Statements to the minimum.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I am a little surprised at the noble Earl's last remark. It is not our decision in this House to have three Statements of such importance, and I do not think I could undertake on behalf of my noble friends to shorten questions any more than we usually do.
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, I am sorry that the noble Lord should feel that my remarks were exceptional. I was merely suggesting that for the general convenience of the House there might be some advantage in confining remarks to as small an amount as possible, particularly in view of the fact that one of the Statements relates to a White Paper which noble Lords will not have had the chance to see.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, we know exactly what the noble Earl wanted to do; it is perfectly understandable. But there are one or two rather controversial points, and I suspect that the Statement the noble Lord, Lord Denham, is going to make will be bad enough, even without our seeing the White Paper.