§ Baroness Young rose to move, That the order of Thursday last relating to the Motions in the names of the Lord Orr-Ewing and the Viscount Rochdale be discharged.
§ The noble Baroness said: My Lords, although my noble friend the Chief Whip made a business statement at the earliest opportunity last night, it is only right that I should give the House a further explanation today. My Motion today arises from an exchange with the noble Lord, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, during consideration of my Motion last Thursday which applied the short debate rules to today's debates in the names of the noble Lord, Lord Orr-Ewing, and the noble Viscount, Lord Rochdale. The noble Lord, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, expressed concern that it would be difficult to contain the important debate today on cable television to two and a half hours. I undertook to consider the matter carefully, through the usual channels, and agreement was reached yesterday on how best to proceed. This agreement has led to my Motion today.
§ Its effect is to discharge last Thursday's Motion, to enable the debate on cable to take place without any time limit. In turn, my noble friend Lord Rochdale has agreed that his debate should take place on an Unstarred Question and not on a Motion. I should like to say how grateful we are to him for his agreement to proceed in this way. I am sure that the agreement reached will be in the general interest of the House and I know that the cable debate will be an important and interesting one. I am sure that the noble Lords who are down to speak will endeavour to do so at not too great a length so that my noble friend's Unstarred Question can begin at not too unreasonable an hour.
§ Moved, That the order of Thursday last relating to the Motions in the names of the Lord Orr-Ewing and the Viscount Rochdale be discharged—(Baroness Young.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.