§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)My Lords, before the commencement of business I take the opportunity to inform the House that, with the approval of Her Majesty the Queen, I have accepted an invitation from the President of the Bundesrat to visit the Bundesrat in Bonn and to undertake other engagements in Germany on 7th and 8th May. I have also been invited to attend the Conference of European Speakers in Berlin between 9th and 11th May. Accordingly, I trust that the House will grant me leave of absence from Tuesday 7th May to Friday 10th May.