§ The Lord President of the Council (Viscount Whitelaw)My Lords, with the leave of the House, I wish to make a brief statement. It is my sad duty to have to tell the House of the death of John Webb, who since 1977 has been the Fourth Clerk at the Table and head of the Judicial Office. I am sure the whole House will wish to join me in sending our deepest sympathy and condolences to his widow, who will be known to some of your Lordships, as she herself was a member of the staff of the House until recently.
My noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor has asked me to express his regret that, because he is sitting judicially this afternoon, he is unable to be present on the Woolsack. He has asked me to pass on to the House his own deep regret and his condolences to Mrs. Webb.
§ Lord Elwyn-JonesMy Lords, I should like on behalf of my noble friends to associate myself with the statement of the Leader of the House, and the message of sympathy and condolences to the wife of John Webb, whom I knew personally and held in the highest regard. He rendered conspicuous public service as Fourth Clerk at the Table and as head of the Judicial Office.