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Lord Thomson of Monifieth: My Lords, briefly, on behalf of these crowded Benches behind me, I wish to associate myself with the words of the noble Lord, Lord Morris of Castle Morris. I know nothing about the usual channels, and never have, either in another place or here. They remain a total mystery to me. However, what I do know is that, mysterious as they are, they certainly have wonders to perform, and particularly in this House. We owe a great debt to the usual channels for the way in which on all sides of the House they manage to serve the House so well.
I join also in the tributes to all the servants of the House in every possible capacity.
Perhaps I might also be allowed a personal word of admiration and respect for the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor. I have perhaps some particular personal reasons to value his very high qualities. But
what has impressed me about him is that, as a senior member of the Government, he has managed to steer some major legislation through from the Woolsack--sometimes rather controversial legislation--and has always managed to do it in a serene and calm way. I can only pay him what I always regard as the great Scottish compliment: in all the troubles of the work and the duties he has had to undertake, he has continually maintained a calm sough.
Lord Skelmersdale: My Lords, if my noble friend the Chief Whip can suspect himself of breaking the unwritten rules of your Lordships' House, surely I as a humble Back-Bencher can do the same. I believe that my fellow Deputy Speakers and Deputy Chairmen would, like me, wish to pay a tribute, on this last occasion when it is possible for any of us to speak in this Parliament, to my noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor. Noble Lords will remember that the law is the true embodiment of everything that is excellent. He has embodied the law for a number of years, both in his distinguished position as Lord Chancellor and before that as Lord Advocate, when he will remember that he dug me out of a personal hole on an energy Bill, which I think was the first Bill that I had the honour to put before your Lordships. He has honoured us, the Deputy Speakers and Deputy Chairmen, in an extremely generous way, from whichever party, or none, from which we have emerged, and we are all extremely grateful to him personally.
Baroness Wharton: We on these Benches also wish to be associated with the expressions of gratitude to the staff who look after us so well, not only those whom we see on a daily basis and who are so unfailingly helpful to us, but also those behind the scenes whom we seldom see and without whom the place would probably grind to a halt. On behalf of the Cross-Benchers, we thank them all.
Finally, we should like to say thank you to the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor for his courtesy to us from the Woolsack. We too wish him well in his retirement. We have an added suggestion: perhaps he would like to join us on these Benches!
Crime (Sentences) Bill
Returned from the Commons with the amendments agreed to.
Education Bill
Returned from the Commons with the amendments agreed to.
Police (Insurance of Voluntary Assistants) Bill [H.L.]
Returned from the Commons agreed to with a privilege amendment; the amendment agreed to.
Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Bill
Returned from the Commons with the amendments agreed to.
Public Entertainments Licences (Drugs Misuse) Bill
Returned from the Commons with the amendments agreed to.
- House adjourned at eighteen minutes past nine o'clock.
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