§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, in moving the adjourn-ment of the House I should like on behalf of my noble friends to wish all noble Lords of the Official Opposition, those on the Alliance Benches and those on the Cross-Benches a very pleasant, enjoyable and restful Recess.
After an exceptionally heavy June and July, I particularly thank all other people who work at this end of the Palace of Westminster. In the circumstances I shall not say that they have worked untiringly but certainly they have worked uncomplainingly and always cheerfully to promote the efficiency, safety, comfort and refreshment of Members of your Lordships' House. I think that we owe them a very great debt indeed.
§ Lord Ponsonby of ShulbredeMy Lords, I should like to associate those on this side of the House with the remarks of the Chief Whip, and the best wishes which he has expressed to the staff, the attendants, the security staff, the refreshment department staff both upstairs and downstairs. I think especially thanks are due this year to the Hansard staff who have worked particularly long hours and even up to the early hours of this morning, working longer than they ought to according to their contract.
It is salutary to recall that during the past year up to last Friday we have sat on 32 occasions more than we did last year. This means that members of staff who are tied to our hours will have found themselves with over 50 per cent. more late duties than last year. We very much appreciate the good grace and good humour with which they have borne these extra duties. For us these hours are self-inflicted; for the staff they 1089 are a burden for which they did not bargain when they came here. We extend extra special good wishes for a restful and reinvigorating Recess to all members of the staff and I join with other noble Lords in extending our best wishes to them.
§ Lord TordoffMy Lords, from these Benches may I echo the words which have already been spoken? In doing so I should like to add to them the name of my noble friend Lord Kilmarnock, who sends his apologies for not being here but who asked me to join his name to the words that I intended to say.
It has been a long and hard Session. We have now come to the end of the political clash and I think it is proper that we should spend just a few moments offering good wishes to each other. There have been triumphs and tragedies and there have been important decisions made, and not merely political decisions. There was, for instance, the decision that we took to invite the television cameras to remain in your Lordships' House. That was an historic decision and we should not forget it at the end of the Session.
Like the noble Lords, Lord Ponsonby and Lord Denham, we certainly wish to be associated with the good wishes and thanks to the staff—and not merely those staff in the Chamber or the refreshment departments but also the people who look after the committees of this House and who play an extremely important and valuable role. Their work is sometimes not appreciated outside your Lordships' House.
We have now come to the end of a very hard Session and we can go away and come back reinvigorated. I wish all noble Lords in the House a very happy holiday.
§ Baroness Hylton-FosterMy Lords, we on the Cross-Benches would also like to extend our thanks to all the staff for their kindness and courtesy during this long and rather difficult period. We should also like to join in wishing them and everybody a happy and peaceful Recess.