HL Deb 27 January 2000 vol 608 cc1670-2

3.32 p.m.

Lord Carter

My Lords, it may be for the convenience of the House to know the dates of the Easter Recess. Subject as always to the progress of business, the House will rise for the Easter Recess at the end of business on Maundy Thursday 20th April. The House will sit at 11 a.m. that day. The House will return from the Easter Recess on Tuesday 2nd May.

I have also received a number of representations from all sides of the House on the subject of a half-term break. Like all Chief Whips, my opening position on all such proposals is to say "No". That is a stance which tends to firm up during negotiations. However, in this particular case I am conscious that because Easter is very late this year it is a long run from Christmas to Easter. Accordingly, I am happy to announce it has been agreed through the usual channels that the House will rise for half-term at the end of business on Wednesday 23rd February and return on Monday 28th February. The House will sit at 11 a.m. on Wednesday 23rd February. This half-term break is not a precedent for future Sessions.

Lord Henley

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his announcement about Easter and the so-called "half-term break" of one extra day. I wonder whether the half-term is necessary. However, if the Government's stamina is such that they need a break, so be it. I trust that when the Government run into timetable problems in the summer, they will remember that this gratuitous extra day was offered by the Government and not demanded by the Opposition.

As to the Easter break, can the noble Lord confirm that Easter this year is almost as late as it is possible to be? Can he also confirm that whenever it has been as late as this in the past, the break has been taken in the week before rather than after Easter? Can the noble Lord also confirm that some local education authority schools in England and all those in Scotland go back immediately after Easter, and, therefore, those noble Lords with children, or—dare I say?—grandchildren, are likely to see very little of them over the so-called "Easter break"?

Lord Carter

My Lords, I suggest that the Opposition Chief Whip has a chat with his noble friends and other noble Lords with children who asked me about a half-term break. If at the end of the Session the only problem that I have had is confined to one day of business management, I shall be fairly relaxed.

As to the timing of the Easter break, the noble Lord will be aware that there were two proposals for the management of business which would have allowed the House to take the break before Easter. However, the Opposition were unable to agree to them, and I have therefore had to go for the normal break, which is the week after Easter.

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, why on earth do we need a half-term break? There has never been such a break before, and I had not heard of it until about an hour ago. I do not know from where this great effort sprang. I do not believe that it came from our side. If it arose on the noble Lord's side, is it not a pretty poor show that the first thing that Peers do when they come here, at the request of Mr Blair, is ask for a half-term break because it is too busy for them? That is absurd. I believe that we should not have it.

Lord Carter

My Lords, I can assure the House that I was approached by a number of Peers from all sides of the House who suggested that it would be a good idea this Session because of the long run. As to naming them, as the Leader of the Opposition said, the sources of Chief Whips, like those of journalists, are always private.