§ 2.41 p.m.
§ Lord MAELORMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce legislation to enable bishops who are Members of this House to remain Members after their retirement.
§ The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)No, my Lords. This would not be in accordance with established usage.
§ Lord MAELORMy Lords, although I thank the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor for answering my Question, I do not thank him for the Answer that he has given me. I am not concerned about any of the bishops as such; I do not believe in bishops—I am a staunch Welsh non-conformist. However, I am concerned about two of the bishops who are about to retire; namely, the Bishop of London and the Bishop of Southwark.
The MINISTER of STATE, MINISTRY of AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES and FOOD (Earl Ferrers)My Lords, I wonder whether the noble Lord could put his observations in the form of a question, because if he did I think that he would fall more happily within the bounds of convention.
§ Lord MAELORMy Lords, is the noble and learned Lord aware that these two particular bishops have given great service to this House? I should like them to be appointed, not as Lord Bishops, but as bishops in their own name, as was done in the case of the noble Lord, Lord Ramsey. I would beg the noble and learned Lord to reconsider this matter.
§ The LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, the Question related to legislation. It would be quite improper for me to discuss the use of the Royal Prerogative in any particular case.
The Lord Bishop of ROCHESTERMy Lords, is the noble and learned Lord aware that some of us on these Benches—and we are grateful for the expression of concern for ageing Church of England bishops—would very much prefer any extension of the representation from these Benches to include our friends and colleagues from the other Churches of the British Isles?
§ The LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, we might find ourselves turning into a very highly religious Assembly, with mitred abbots, ex-moderators and chief rabbis.