§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer given by Lord Richard on 18 June (WA 120), whether the following words appear in the Oath of Allegiance taken by Privy Counsellors: "You will to your uttermost bear Faith and Allegiance unto the Queen's Majesty; and will assist and defend all jurisdictions, Pre-eminences and Authorities, granted to Her Majesty, and 41WA annexed to the Crown by Acts of Parliament, or otherwise, against all Foreign Princes, Persons, Prelates, States or Potentates. And generally, in all things you will do as a faithful and true servant ought to do to Her Majesty. SO HELP YOU GOD" and, if so, whether they see any conflict between those duties and the duties imposed on European Commissioners when they declare at the commencement of their term of office inter alia, "I do solemnly undertake to perform my duties in complete independence, in the general interest of the Communities; [and] in carrying out my duties, neither to seek nor to take instructions from any Government or from any other body".
§ Lord RichardThe words in question appear not in the Oath of Allegiance, the text of which was given in answer to the noble Lord on 18 June (WA 120), but in the Privy Counsellor's Oath. There is no incompatibility between that Oath and the Declaration made by European Commissioners when assuming office.