HL Deb 09 February 1972 vol 327 cc1142-3
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL)

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time.

Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.—(The Earl of Listowel.)

LORD MAYBRAY-KING

My Lords, I hope the House will excuse me if I say two or three sentences, as a Fellow of King's College, in commendation of the Second Reading of this Bill, in which I have an academic but no financial interest. In 1872, King's College took over on a 99-year lease a part of the land of Somerset House. Much later the College became an integral part of the University of London. This was a truly ecumenical decision, because King's College was founded as a Christian college as a counterblast in 1829 to the pagan University College. The 99-year lease on the land ran out last year. This Bill empowers the appropriate Minister to accept a new lease of land on which Kings College, University of London, will stand for the next 999 years.

It is appropriate that this Bill comes at a time when King's College, London, is completing a splendid building programme, and the Second Reading of this Bill gives me the opportunity of expressing regret that a century ago the Founding Fathers did not then take the opportuniy of incorporating into the new King's College the whole of Somerset House, especially in view of recent discussions as to the future of Somerset House. It may be too late for that now, but I welcome this very necessary Bill.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Maybray-King, for commenting on this Bill and for giving me notice of his intention to do so.

On Question, Bill read 2ª, and committed to the Committee on Unopposed Bills.