HL Deb 18 January 1978 vol 388 cc100-1

2.53 p.m.

Lord MAELOR

My 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 Chairman of Committees why the Truro silent room in the Library has been converted into a non-smoking room.

The CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES (Lord Aberdare)

My Lords, the Library Sub-Committee at its meeting on 16th November decided that the chairs lost to non-smoking Peers in the Queen's Room on its conversion into a reference room should be replaced by converting the Truro Room into a non-smoking room.

Lord MAELOR

My Lords, I must thank the noble Lord the Lord Chairman of Committees for his reply, which I regard as most unsatisfactory. As has been pointed out, before the rule was introduced, we already had a silent and non-smoking room. As a result of converting this room into a similar type of room, it has now become an office. How silly we must look in this room because of the rule. We are all looking at one another, nodding, just like silent monks, or, perhaps I should say, like silent monkeys. I enjoy my smoke. In three weeks' time I shall be 80 years of age.

Lord PEART

My Lords, I beg my noble friend to ask a direct question.

Lord MAELOR

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that in three weeks' time I shall be 80 years of age and that I have been smoking for 70 years? Now may I inform the House that, apart from the time when the noble Lord, Lord Platt, will be in that room—I respect his sincere views—I shall continue to smoke there. No one will be able to stop me, because if anyone speaks I shall say, "This is a silent room".

Lord PEART

My Lords, order! I must ask my noble friend to respect the courtesies of the House.

Lord ABERDARE

My Lords, I am not sure what question I am answering. I assure the noble Lord that I have always associated him with smoking, but never so much with silence.

Baroness BACON

My Lords, if the noble Lord has the power—I am not sure whether he has such a power—would he extend this prohibition to the telephone boxes and telephone booths within the precincts of the House? Is he aware that there is nothing more repellent to a nonsmoker than to pick up a telephone which someone has been using while smoking at the same time?

Lord ABERDARE

My Lords I shall certainly take note of that interesting suggestion.