§ 3.2 p.m.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD HAILSIIAM OF SAINT MARYLEBONE)My Lords, with the permission of the House I would like to inform your Lordships that at the invitation of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, I attended a Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments in the Commonwealth, which was held in Lusaka between September 24 and 28. I was accompanied by the Clerk of the Parliaments. This is the third of a series of Commonwealth Speakers' Conferences. The first was held in Ottawa in 1969, and was attended by my predecessor. The second was that held in Delhi in January, 1972, which I myself attended.
I would like to take the opportunity to express publicly (as I have already done privately) my warmest thanks to Mr. Speaker Nabulyato and to President Kaunda and his Government for the admirable arrangements made for the Conference and for the courtesy and hospitality extended to us as representatives of the United Kingdom. Nothing could have exceeded the warmth of welcome and of interest with which we, as delegates, were received and I am grateful for the chance of taking part in the Conference and of making, or renewing, personal contact with the Speakers of the Commonwealth Parliaments and with the President, Members of the Assembly and people of the Republic of Zambia.