§ 3.4 p.m.
§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham)My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. In doing so, perhaps I may seek your Lordships' indulgence to say that we were most sorry to hear of the illness of the noble Lord, Lord Rippon of Hexham, and we look forward to news of his progress. I wish to take this opportunity of thanking him most warmly for his distinguished and pioneering chairmanship of the committee. In fact, he championed the cause of this development in our procedures, which has further enhanced the reputation of your Lordships' House, in particular in its scrutiny work.
I also wish to thank the acting chairman, the noble Lord, Lord Elton, for the most able way in which he has chaired the committee and for his willingness to do so. He has enabled the committee to continue its 726 work uninterrupted. Finally, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Alexander of Weedon, for allowing his name to be put before your Lordships tod
Moved, on behalf of the Committee, of Selection, That the Lord Alexander of Weedon be appointed chairman of the Select Committee in the place of the Lord Rippon of Hexham resigned.—(The Chairman of Committees.)
The Lord Privy Seal (Viscount Cranborne)My Lords, perhaps your Lordships will allow me to echo the remarks made by the noble Lord the Chairman of Committees. All of us were most distressed to hear of the illness that has afflicted my noble friend Lord Rippon of Hexham. I am sure that I take the House with me in saying that we wish him the speediest of recoveries not only because of the respect and affection with which he is regarded in this House but, as the noble Lord the Chairman of Committees said, because of the pioneering work which my noble friend undertook not only in the Delegated Powers Scrutiny Committee but in a number of tasks which the House asked him to undertake. He has acted in the highest traditions of elder statesman—and I use that phrase advisedly—in your Lordships' House. I suggest that all noble Lords owe my noble friend a great debt of gratitude.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.