§ LORD ARCHIBALDMy Lords, although the Northern Ireland Proportional Representation Bill is not on the Order Paper to-day, I believe I am entitled to say a word on it: I shall be very brief. After the Statement by Mr. Whitelaw, which was repeated in this House, about the adoption of proportional representation in the forthcoming autumn local government elections, I said that I would consider withdrawing this Bill. I hope that the experiment in the local government elections will be extended to further elections as and when they come in Northern Ireland. In the meantime, I beg leave to withdraw the Northern Ireland Proportional Representation Bill.
§ THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (LORD DERWENT)My Lords, I cannot put that Question to the House. The Bill is not on the Order Paper.