§ 2.43 p.m.
§ Lord PEARTMy Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. The Working Group on the House of Lords' Library was set up last March by my noble friend Lord Shepherd when he was Leader of the House. This Working Group, under the chairmanship of the noble Viscount, Lord Eccles, has now produced a detailed and extremely worthwhile report on the future of the Library, and I think it would be in the interests of your Lordships for this report to be made as widely available as possible. I therefore ask the House to agree that it be printed.
I wish to take this opportunity of expressing my warm thanks to the noble Viscount and all the members of the Working Group for the time and hard work they have devoted to this subject. When your Lordships have had an opportunity to read the report I look forward to hearing reactions to it, and there will of course be widespread consultation. If Members of the House feel that it would be a subject suitable for debate, that is a point which can certainly be discussed through the usual channels.
§ Moved, That the report to the Leader of the House from the Working Group on the House of Lords' Library be printed.—(Lord Peart.)
§ Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARY-LEBONEMy Lords, I rise simply to add the thanks of noble Lords on this side of the House to my noble friend Lord Eccles, and to agree with the Leader of the House that the report should be printed in order that it may be studied by us all.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.