§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)My Lords, before business begins, I take the opportunity to inform the House that I am to make an official visit to Brussels on Monday 4th March and Tuesday 5th March, when the House will sit. I shall be holding meetings with members of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice. I am also attending a meeting of the Cabinet on Friday 8th March, when the House will sit. Accordingly, I trust that the House will grant me leave of absence.