Adjournment (Hansard, 16 July 1992)

§ Lord Hesketh
My Lords, in moving that the House do now adjourn, I think that it would be appropriate for me to thank all those who make the business of your Lordships' House possible—that is, both those seen and, more important, those who are unseen. Although in recent months your Lordships have not perhaps had to endure the long hours to which we are normally accustomed at this time of year, it remains the case that the work of your Lordships' House is facilitated and enabled by the unfailing efficiency, courtesy and assistance that we receive from those who work in all quarters of the House. All of us are considerably in their debt.

Noble Lords
Hear, hear!

§ Lord Hesketh
My Lords, at the same time I should like to take the opportunity to wish all noble Lords a restful and enjoyable Recess. When we return in October, I hope that it will be with renewed enthusiasm and vigour after the restorative process of the idyllic summer months that lie ahead.

§ Lord Graham of Edmonton
My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Cledwyn and all my colleagues on the Labour Benches I should like warmly to endorse the remarks of the Government Chief Whip. It is trite to say,"There is nothing more to be said; but I intend to take 20 minutes to say it". I admire and appreciate that, rather than go through a long list of worthy people and groups and always fail to mention one or two and then get into trouble for it, he has done the right thing. I say that because we are indebted to so many people, both seen and unseen.
The great thing is that the service that such people give is, without exception, uniform and generous to all Members of the House on all sides of the House, especially some of our colleagues who may be infirm and in need of special assistance. Already today, as some people will know, there has been an incident where a Member of your Lordships' House had to be taken to hospital. I can say that my noble friend 411 Lady Jeger is being well looked after at Westminster Hospital and that I shall be visiting her after the House has adjourned.
Of course this is the time for buckets and spades. When the noble Lord, Lord Hesketh, goes home, I hope that his children do not ask his wife who the strange man is. I know that he has the special privilege and joy of not only going on holiday and having a wife to enjoy it with but that he also has children. That is a joy that many of us do not have at this time.
We are all ready for our holiday. It has been a strange and difficult Session, represented in part by the noble Lord, Lord Finsberg. That is not to say that he is strange and difficult, but that he represents one of 35 new Members of your Lordships' House. Of course that presents not only pleasure but also a number of problems as regards accommodation and in many other ways.
The usual channels work very well together, especially on matters which are non-political but which are purely House matters. On behalf of my colleagues I should like to say to the Government Chief Whip how grateful we are for his tolerance and understanding in many ways. We on this side of the House certainly endorse what he said. We look forward to coming back with renewed vigour and we hope to continue, as we last left off, with the occasional defeat of the Government.

§ Lord Tordoff
My Lords, from these Benches, perhaps I may start by endorsing what the noble Lord, Lord Graham of Edmonton, said about the usual channels. It has been a year during which things have not always been easy, but where the usual channels have worked well together. I know that the noble Lord may face an election in the autumn, and so it would be wrong for me to praise him too much or suggest that we want to see him back, because that might destroy his street credibility. Nevertheless, the usual channels work well together, and I am grateful to him for what he said.
We face changes in the coming Session. For instance, we might have clocks that work. That brings us to the people who work in this place unseen. Until the clocks broke down we were not aware of the special job that has been done by those people who for so many years have faithfully looked after the clocks in the building. It is only when things go wrong we 412 realise that there are people working on our behalf whom we do not normally see during the course of the day.
So, as the noble Lord, Lord Graham, said, off we go to our children or grandchildren or to dig in our gardens while people in another place go back to count their new research assistants. We hope that when we return there may be at least some news about accommodation. We shall not all suddenly have brand new offices but there is some hope on the horizon that there will be a little more elbow room for your Lordships in the Palace in the foreseeable future, or soon, or one of these days, or whatever the phrase is that is normally used on the Government Front Bench.

§ Baroness Seear
My Lords, when the time is right!

§ Lord Tordoff
My Lords, my noble friend reminds me that the proper phrase is "When the time is right". Like the noble Lord the Chief Whip, I commend to your Lordships all those people who work so hard for us who are due for a rest much more than we are. Nevertheless, we shall enjoy that rest, and I look forward to seeing everyone again in the autumn.

§ Baroness Hylton-Foster
My Lords, the Cross Bench Peers are always happy to join in expressing thanks and good wishes to the staff of the House of Lords. In the words of the lift-man today, I should like to include what he calls "the permanent fixture here". We should like to draw special attention to the excellence of the Library department and thank those who work there for the wonderful, quick service they give us. We also congratulate the refreshment department on coping so well with all the parties for the new Peers, while at the same time looking after us so well in all the dining rooms and bars. To staff and Peers we give our good wishes for a restful and happy Recess.

§ Lord Hesketh
My Lords, on the assumption that the Whips' Office can never believe in the land of milk and honey but can, nonetheless, concede that the Chief Whip of the Liberal Democrat Party may have a point and that there may be further space available to your Lordships' House, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.