HL Deb 30 July 1980 vol 412 cc877-8

3.12 p.m.

Lord DENHAM

My Lords, with the leave of the House, my noble friend Lord Belstead will repeat a Statement that is to be made in another place on British nationality law at a convenient moment after 3.30 p.m.

It may also be for the convenience of your Lordships if I announce that dinner will be available this evening at the usual time, 7 p.m.

I should also like to inform the House that the Committee stage of the Broadcasting Bill will not now be taken on Wednesday next, 6th August. The Committee and remaining stages will be taken when the House returns in October. As my noble friend Lord Belstead confirmed to your Lordships during the Second Reading of the Bill last week, the Government wish to introduce amendments to the Bill to provide for the establishment of a Welsh language television committee. The Government believe that these amendments should be discussed in your Lordships' House at Committee stage, but the precise details still require to be worked out and further consultation with broadcasting authorities is essential.

Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Statement. While we understand that, if the Government need time for consideration for amendments to the Broadcasting Bill, the first Committee day should be postponed, we should nevertheless like an assurance from the noble Lord that the Government will give full and proper time for consideration of the Broadcasting Bill during the autumn spill-over.

Lord DENHAM

My Lords, we shall certainly allow the Bill appropriate time when the House returns in October.

Lord ELWYN-JONES

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for informing the House of the Government's decision to postpone the Committee stage of the Broadcasting Bill, may I stress how vital it is that the proposed consultations should take place with as wide a range of Welsh interests as possible in view of the great importance of the Bill for the future of the beautiful and ancient Welsh language?

Lord DENHAM

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Elwyn-Jones, and I shall certainly draw his remarks to the attention of my right honourable friend.