§ 3.33 p.m.
§ Viscount UllswaterMy Lords, at a convenient moment after 3.30 p.m., my noble friend Lord Arran will, with the leave of the House, repeat a Statement that is to be made in another place on the Local Government Finance Act 1982.
§ Lord TordoffMy Lords, in the light of that statement by the Chief Whip, is the noble Lord the Leader of the House aware that the Statement was placed in the hands of the Opposition at precisely 3.31 p.m. To give the Opposition any opportunity to speak to Statements of this kind we must have better notice. Will the Leader of the House please take up with the department the reasons why the Statement was delayed in its transmission to your Lordships' House?
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Wakeham)My Lords, I am sure that everyone did the best they could. However, I take the point that the noble Lord makes. I shall look into the matter and seek to ensure that it does not occur again.
§ Lord Stoddart of SwindonMy Lords, does the Statement deal with the problems of the Westminster City Council?
§ Lord WakehamMy Lords, I think that the noble Lord had better wait for the Statement.