§ LORD CHAMPIONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask Her Majesty's Government a Question of which I have given Private Notice:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make a Statement on the dispute in the gas industry.
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, with the leave of the House, my noble friend Lord Drumalbyn will answer this Question at a convenient moment after 3.30 p.m.
My Lords, because of the expeditious way in which the House completed the Report stage of the National Health Service Reorganisation Bill yesterday, it has been agreed through the usual channels that it will not be necessary to sit this coming Monday. With the agreement of the usual channels and also of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Denning, it is proposed to move the Guardianship Bill, the Solicitors Bill, and a number of special Orders on to Tuesday. The Unstarred Question of the noble Lord, Lord Henley, will move to Thursday, February 22. In addition to this business on Tuesday, it is also proposed that we should debate the Report of the Joint Committee on Delegated Legislation. Your Lordships will remember that we were due to debate this a few weeks ago, but that owing to the indisposition of my noble friend the Leader of the House the debate had to be postponed. I hope that these arrangements will be convenient to your Lordships.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether it is also proposed to have before the House the proposed Standing Orders or Regulations for the new Joint Scrutiny Committee? It would be very useful, because they relate to the Brooke Report, if we could take it all in one. If that is too fast a one for the noble Lord, Lord Denham, perhaps he would consider it between now and then.
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, I am told that the answer to that question is, Yes.