§ 3.25 p.m.
§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, it may be for the convenience of the House if I announce, with leave of the House, that my noble friend Lord Hesketh will be making a Statement on local government finance at a convenient moment after 4.45 p.m.
§ Lord Ponsonby of ShulbredeMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord the Government Chief Whip for the information about the Statement. The hour of 4.45 p.m. is an extraordinary time to take a Statement. As noble Lords will know, House of Lords' Statements are taken immediately after Questions. I am surprised that we are not taking the Statement at this time. I should like to commend the noble Lord the Government Chief Whip for insisting that the privileges of Parliament be preserved and upheld and that the subsequent Statement to be made at a political conference in Blackpool will be a mere repetition of this Statement.
304 However, I am concerned that the position of Parliament be preserved and that we ensure that the Minister's Statement in Blackpool is cleared by us before he starts making it. In the circumstances would it not be more appropriate if the Statement were taken as soon as it is available, which I understand will be shortly after four o'clock, and not specifically at 4.45 p.m? Who knows, we may at that very moment have just started on a long debate on a particular amendment and we may not be able to conclude that debate until after 5.30.
§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, I am surprised at the surprise of the noble Lord, Lord Ponsonby, because the timing of the Statement has been agreed through the usual channels and therefore it is not usual to question it from the Opposition Dispatch Box. I assure the noble Lord, Lord Ponsonby, that the prerogatives of the House have been jealously guarded by Her Majesty's Government.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, it is true that the timing is normally agreed between the usual channels, but the timing of the availability of the text of the Statement is not usually agreed. We have not yet had it. Does that mean that the Government have not made up their mind about the community charge? Why could it not have been made available to us long before now?
§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, when the noble Lord, Lord McIntosh of Haringey, has had the advantage of being in government himself—
§ Lord Denham—I am not being nasty about this—he will appreciate that the wording of Statements made in either House of Parliament has to be considered very carefully indeed. I am advised that the precise text of the Statement will not be ready until the time I have indicated. I assure the noble Lord, Lord McIntosh, that the courtesies of this House will be observed, in that noble Lords who are commenting on the Statement after it has been made will be given the text in enough time for them to consider it before they make their own remarks and comments.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, I am grateful for that assurance that the normal courtesies will be observed. I am still left with the question as to whether the Government, who usually stage-manage their party conferences rather effectively, are succeeding in doing so on this occasion
§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, what happens elsewhere in the country is not my responsibility. My responsibility as Chief Whip is to see that proper courtesy and proper regard is paid to the privileges of this House, and I think that we have done so on this occasion.