§ Sir D. Campbellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements have been made for participation in the 800th anniversary of the promulgation of the Laws of Oléron by Eleanor of Aquitaine; whether he will link this celebration with the sex-centenary celebrations of the Admiralty Court in England; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. AllanI understand from my noble Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty that the central feature of the celebrations of the sexcentenary of the Admiralty Court in England is to be a service of thanksgiving in St. Paul's Cathedral on 1st June in the presence of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. At this service, a copy of the Laws of Oléron, one of the sources of the law of the sea, extracted from the Black Book of Admiralty, an early precedent book of the Admiralty Court, will be handed to the Chaplain of the Fleet for conveyance in one of Her Majesty's Ships to the island of Oléron as a gift to the people of the island. The Admiralty are arranging for H.M.S. " Wakeful" and the Minesweepers 85W "Thames", "Venturer", "St. David" and " Bossington " to convey the gift to Oléron and to take part in the local celebrations there from 8th to 13th June to mark the 800th anniversary of the promulgation of the Laws of Oléron by Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of King Henry II of England. A French warship, F.S. " L'Opiniâtre", will visit London from 30th May to 3rd June, in connection with the celebrations of the Admiralty Court's sexcentenary.