HL Deb 16 July 1981 vol 422 cc1379-80
Lord Denham

My Lords, it may be for the convenience of the House if I announce that dinner will be available today at the usual time. The Committee stage of the British Nationality Bill will be adjourned at approximately seven o'clock for a short period, and during the adjournment the Report stage of the Armed Forces Bill and the County Courts Jurisdiction Order 1981 and consideration of Commons amendments to the Forgery and Counterfeiting Bill will be taken.

With the leave of the House, I should like also to say a word about future business. Your Lordships will no doubt be concerned to know when the House will rise for the Summer Recess, and indeed it is customary for an announcement to be made at around this time in July. All that I can say at present is that, although every endeavour will be made to ensure that the House rises for the Summer Recess on Friday, 31st July, this will be subject more than usual this year to the progress of business. I will, of course, make a further announcement as soon as possible.

Baroness Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe

My Lords, the House will wish to thank the noble Lord for making that announcement. May I ask whether he realises I am sure he does—that in all parts of the House there is a very strong feeling that an almost impossible burden of work has been put upon the House at this very difficult part of the Session, and that the Government really should not cram so much complicated and controversial legislation into the back end of the Session? Of course, we know it is not entirely the fault of the noble Lord himself; it is the Government's responsibility for their programme. But I think the House is entitled to ask him whether, if, as he foreshadowed, we have to sit in August, at least we shall not have to sit more than one or two days.

Lord Denham

My Lords, I think I shall probably have no opposition from any part of the House for the first thing I want to say, which is to wish the noble Baroness a very happy birthday. The House has certainly had to consider a great deal of business in recent weeks and I cannot deny that it has been a very busy Session indeed. But I would question whether it is correct to say that the Government have asked the House to sit far longer or later in the past few weeks than has been the case in most recent years. I think the noble Baroness asked for a guarantee about August. All I can say is that, as always, I will use my best endeavours.