§ Lord CarterMy Lords, before my noble friend Lord Bach moves the Motion, perhaps I may apologise to the House for having to take these important orders so late at night. In particular, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Blatch, for her forbearance and patience in waiting. We entered the House together in 1987 and we have followed each other's careers with interest ever since.
The noble Baroness has been a Minister and she will know that the business does not always proceed as smoothly as Chief Whips and Opposition spokesmen would like. I really am grateful to her for her co-operation in taking these orders at the end of business for reasons outside my own control, which I have explained to her, and for her patience in waiting to deal with them. Again, I thank the noble Baroness.