Viscount CranborneMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I wonder whether I may ask the noble Baroness the Leader of the House a question about business. Can the noble Baroness confirm to the House that she and the Government regard the report published this morning by the noble Lord, Lord Jenkins of Hillhead, as a matter of some importance? If they do so regard it, I hope that the House can be assured that the Government will take the report seriously. I hope that they will also feel that Parliament is owed an explanation as soon as possible of how the Government regard the report and what they intend to do. After all, one House will be deeply affected by the report whether or not it is accepted.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Viscount for drawing the attention of the House to the important report by the independent commission chaired by the noble Lord, Lord Jenkins of Hillhead. The report's proposals are significant and worthy of lengthy debate and discussion. The noble Lord recommends, for example, that the proposals that he puts forward could not be considered for any general election until the one after next. I think, therefore, that this is not a matter for immediate discussion although it is clearly worthy of important discussion.
I draw your Lordships' attention to the fact that the Government used adequate and proper methods to ensure that your Lordships were aware of the publication of the report. The arrangements appeared in a Written Answer in Hansard yesterday. The report was available in the Printed Paper Office this morning at 11 o'clock. It was accompanied by a statement from my right honourable friend the Home Secretary.