§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)My Lords, before the commencement of business, I take the opportunity to inform the House that I am to undertake an official visit to the United States of America from Thursday 12th October to Wednesday 18th October, when the House will sit. In the course of that visit I shall be delivering a lecture at the University of Boston and delivering the James Madison Memorial Lecture at the University of New York. Accordingly, I trust the House will grant me leave of absence.