§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Belstead)My Lords, I know that during our summer adjournment the House will have been saddened by the death of a number of Peers, whom we miss. Our sympathy goes out to their relatives and friends.
I should like in particular to pay tribute to Lord Peart, formerly Lord Privy Seal and Leader of your Lordships' House, who died on 26th August. Lord Peart came to this House after a highly distinguished career in another place, both as its Leader and as Minister of Agriculture. Indeed, few Ministers can have had such a long, happy and successful association with a Ministry as did Fred Peart with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Lord Peart came to your Lordships' House in 1976 as Leader and Lord Privy Seal in succession to Lord Shepherd. He held that position until 1979. I understand that he was the first Minister since Disraeli to serve as Leader of both Houses of Parliament. Like the Earl of Beaconsfield. he made his maiden speech as Leader of the House, speaking from the Dispatch Box.
It is not an easy task to come straight from another place to lead your Lordships' House. It says much for Lord Peart's character and charm that he instantly endeared himself to the whole House. Although in recent years we saw less of him as his health deteriorated, I am sure that I speak for all your Lordships in saying how much we regret his death, and that we send our sympathy to Lady Peart on this occasion.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, the noble Lord the Leader of the House has paid a warm well-deserved tribute to our late friend and colleague, Lord Peart. We are grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Belstead. Fred Peart showed an interest in politics from an early age. No doubt this was due to his father, who was active in the political life of the North-East and who had been agent to Manny Shinwell in the Easington constituency. It was not surprising therefore that he was one of the young men elected to the 1945 Parliament. His friendly and sociable personality ensured that he soon became a popular Member.
I think it would be right to say that Fred Peart's parliamentary career was influenced and shaped by his association with Tom Williams, the notable postwar Minister of Agriculture who appointed him to be his Parliamentary Private Secretary. This introduced Fred Peart to the farming world and it is as a dedicated and hard-working Minister of Agriculture that he will be remembered. He was genuinely 578 attached to farmers and to their industry and he fought their battles with skill and a great deal of success. His first price review was not an easy one, but he progressively gained the farmers' confidence by his championship of their interests.
I succeeded Lord Peart as Minister during the grim foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in 1968 and I can therefore vouch from personal knowledge for the affection in which he was held. To be a popular Minister of Agriculture is no mean achievement. If there is a good harvest, the Almighty and the farmers receive the credit; if there is a bad one, the Minister of Agriculture gets the blame.
His qualities made Lord Peart a respected Leader of the House of Commons. When he came here in 1976 as Leader, he adapted quickly and I know that this House responded readily to those qualities. I should add that as Leader in both Houses he took a warm interest in the staff at all levels, and I know that this was much appreciated. Fred Peart was above all a good companion and an enthusiastic sportsman. He enjoyed the company of his friends in both Houses and he will he greatly missed. Our deep sympathy goes to Lady Peart and to Emerson, his son.
§ Lord Jenkins of HillheadMy Lords, although I never witnessed Lord Peart's leadership of this House, I sat with him in the House of Commons for 27 years and in Cabinet with him for seven years. I think I can therefore claim to have known him fairly well over a substantial chunk of his life.
He held great offices without flamboyance and had that remarkable distinction to which the noble Lord the Leader of the House referred. He shared in this century with the noble Viscount, Lord Whitelaw, and no one else the distinction of being Leader of both Houses of Parliament. He also shared that remarkable distinction from the last century with Lord John Russell and Disraeli and no one else. He did a great deal for British agriculture. But what I most recall about him was that he was an exceptionally agreeable man who infused any gathering at which he was present with warmth and friendliness. Like me he was born into the regional Labour establishment and was one of those who helped to keep the Labour Party moderate and broad-based during its period of maximum power. We by no means always agreed. Indeed we once fought a deputy leadership contest against each other.
Europe was for long the divide, although in his last period as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food I think he rather changed his view and indeed came to enjoy what one might describe as the market day festivities of the Council of Agricultural Ministers. However, he never imported any rancour into disagreements. He spread goodwill around him and I think and hope that he enjoyed his life until the brutal misfortune which struck him a few years ago. We remember him with respect and affection and send our sympathy to his widow and son.
§ Baroness StedmanMy Lords, from these Benches we also wish to join with the noble Lords, Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos and Lord Jenkins of Hillhead, in 579 their appreciation of the work of Lord Peart. Many of us on the SDP Benches served under Lord Peart in the Labour Party before 1981 and we always enjoyed his goodwill and affection. We remember with pride what we were able to do under his leadership in this House. Like others who have spoken, our sympathy goes to his widow and family.
§ Lord Mowbray and StourtonMy Lords—
§ Baroness Hylton-FosterMy Lords, I know that noble Lords sitting on the Cross-Benches would want to be associated with the tributes already paid to Lord Peart who was a very modest man with a great deal of common sense. We on these Benches admired his courage very much when he came back to this House after being hit on the head by robbers in his own home. We join with other noble Lords in sending our sympathy to his widow and son.
§ Lord Mowbray and StourtonMy Lords, I apologise to the noble Baroness for interrupting earlier. I wish to say one thing about Lord Peart from the Back Benches of the Conservative Party. Lord Peart was a great man. He once said to me, "Do you know, Charles, what I feel about your religion?" I replied that I did not. He said, "Let me show you a photograph." He gave me a photograph of himself with the Pope. It was signed by the Pope: "To my good friend, Fred." That more than explained to me what the man, Fred Peart, meant to all of us in this House. He was a man who stood up for himself and for all of us. I cannot express my feelings stronger than to say that I have never known a man more pleased to have that photograph of himself with the Pope. He knew that I would be pleased about that.