§ 2.37 p.m.
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask the Leader of the House whether he will arrange for Members of the House to be notified of a meeting on 28th April under the auspices of the Lords Defence Study Group at which a prominent NATO official is to address the Group.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)My Lords, notice of this meeting has been posted in the Prince's Chamber since early in the 2 month. No doubt my noble friend's Question today will serve as a further reminder.
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for that Answer. Is he aware that the reason why I put down the Question on the Order Paper is that it was decided by some of my colleagues in the Group to approach the Whips of the several Parties to ascertain whether a notice could be placed on the Whip, since a similar procedure is adopted in another place? It was because of their refusal that I was bound to take this action in order to advertise the meeting that is about to take place. Is my noble friend aware that the formation of the Committee was endorsed, if not by every Member of your Lordships' House at any rate by the Leaders of the respective Parties and also by some of the Cross-Benchers? If a group is to be formed, surely its purpose is to be constructive and active, and it is impossible to be so unless the meetings are advertised. I am grateful to my noble friend for advertising the meeting—
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, I have to be long in order to make this subject known to everybody. Is my noble friend aware that I am grateful to him for having advertised that the meeting is to take place tomorrow at 5 o'clock in 3 Room 4B and that it is open not only to members of the Group—that is not the intention—but to all Members of your Lordships' House who are interested in the subject of defence?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I think that the whole House will be in entire agreement with everything that my noble friend has said.
§ Lord CLIFFORD of CHUDLEIGHMy Lords, speaking as a member of the Group concerned, is the noble Lord aware that we are extremely grateful to him and to the Government for giving us this free publicity?