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Vol. 723 Monday No. 90 10 January 2011 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) HOUSE OF LORDS OFFICIAL REPORT ORDER OF BUSINESS Introductions: Baroness Kramer, Baroness Wheatcroft, Lord Lexden Deaths of Members: Lord Windlesham and Lord Strabolgi Tributes Questions EU: Budget UN Women Equality: Act of Settlement Schools: League Tables Budget Responsibility and National Audit Bill [HL] Order of Consideration Motion Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill Committee (7th Day) Blood and Blood Products Statement Health: Parkinson’s Disease Question for Short Debate Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill Committee (7th Day) (Continued) Written Statements Written Answers For column numbers see back page £3·50 Lords wishing to be supplied with these Daily Reports should give notice to this effect to the Printed Paper Office. The bound volumes also will be sent to those Peers who similarly notify their wish to receive them. No proofs of Daily Reports are provided. Corrections for the bound volume which Lords wish to suggest to the report of their speeches should be clearly indicated in a copy of the Daily Report, which, with the column numbers concerned shown on the front cover, should be sent to the Editor of Debates, House of Lords, within 14 days of the date of the Daily Report. This issue of the Official Report is also available on the Internet at www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/index/110110.html PRICES AND SUBSCRIPTION RATES DAILY PARTS Single copies: Commons, £5; Lords £3·50 Annual subscriptions: Commons, £865; Lords £525 WEEKLY HANSARD Single copies: Commons, £12; Lords £6 Annual subscriptions: Commons, £440; Lords £255 Index: Annual subscriptions: Commons, £125; Lords, £65. LORDS VOLUME INDEX obtainable on standing order only. Details available on request. BOUND VOLUMES OF DEBATES are issued periodically during the session. Single copies: Commons, £105; Lords, £40. Standing orders will be accepted. THE INDEX to each Bound Volume of House of Commons Debates is published separately at £9·00 and can be supplied to standing order. WEEKLY INFORMATION BULLETIN, compiled by the House of Commons, gives details of past and forthcoming business, the work of Committees and general information on legislation, etc. Single copies: £1·50. Annual subscription: £53·50. All prices are inclusive of postage. © Parliamentary Copyright House of Lords 2011, this publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ 1161 Introductions[10 JANUARY 2011] Deaths of Members 1162 Lord Windlesham was educated at Ampleforth and House of Lords Trinity College, Oxford, where he read law. He was Monday, 10 January 2011. commissioned in the Grenadier Guards—his father’s regiment—for national service, yet on graduation he 2.15 pm soon found a passion for politics sitting side by side with a career in television. In the general election of Prayers—read by the Lord Bishop of Gloucester. 1959, he stood unsuccessfully as the Conservative candidate in the Tottenham seat. The tragic and Introduction: Baroness Kramer unexpected death of his father—the second Lord Windlesham—in 1962 changed the trajectory of his 2.23 pm political career and deprived the Commons of what Susan Veronica Kramer, having been created Baroness clearly would have been one of its youngest and brightest Kramer, of Richmond Park in the London Borough of stars. As has often been the case, their loss was our Richmond upon Thames, was introduced and took the considerable gain. oath, supported by Baroness Hamwee and Lord Watson Taking his seat as the third Baron Windlesham, and of Richmond, and signed an undertaking to abide by the ever with an eye towards the topical and yet enduring Code of Conduct. questions of government, he made his maiden speech in this House on the subject of reform by supporting Introduction: Baroness Wheatcroft Tony Benn’s desire to renounce his peerage and remain in the Commons. It was not without irony, therefore, 2.29 pm that after further reform in the 1990s and towards the Patience Jane Wheatcroft, having been created Baroness end of his own career, Lord Windlesham was made a Wheatcroft, of Blackheath in the London Borough of life Peer in order that he might continue to bring his Greenwich, was introduced and made the solemn affirmation, considerable expertise to the service of the nation. supported by Lord Moynihan and Lord Oakeshott of As Minister at the Home Office between 1970 and Seagrove Bay, and signed an undertaking to abide by the 1972, Lord Windlesham took responsibility for the Code of Conduct. penal system against the backdrop of a rising prison population. He handled both the Immigration Bill and the Industrial Relations Bill with calm efficiency Introduction: Lord Lexden and considerable charm, as it was then said. At the 2.34 pm newly created Northern Ireland Office, from 1972 to Alistair Basil Cooke OBE, having been created Baron 1973, his appointment as the first statutory Catholic Lexden, of Lexden in the County of Essex, and of to hold ministerial office for the Province at a time of Strangford in the County of Down, was introduced and rising tension was described as “inspired” and his way took the oath, supported by Lord Cope of Berkeley and of business “even-handed”. Lord Black of Brentwood, and signed an undertaking to Thereafter, as Leader of this House and Lord Privy abide by the Code of Conduct. Seal, until the Conservative Government fell in February 1974, Lord Windlesham was the youngest Leader since Lord Grenville in 1790. Lord Windlesham Deaths of Members: Lord Windlesham and brought a quiet, authoritative manner to the handling Lord Strabolgi of important and often difficult business. A safe and Tributes steady pair of hands, courteous and precise, brave and yet never over-reaching, he stood by his Prime Minister, 2.39 pm his party and his country during some of their toughest times. The Lord Speaker (Baroness Hayman): My Lords, I regret that I have to inform the House of the recent Lord Windlesham continued to lead the Opposition deaths of the noble Lords, Lord Windlesham and in the Lords until the second election of 1974, whereafter Lord Strabolgi. On behalf of the House, I extend our he resigned the post and again turned his attention to condolences to the noble Lords’ families and friends. television as managing director of ATV. In 1982, he was appointed chairman of the Parole Board, which The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord meant more often than not defending a system that Strathclyde): My Lords, I pay tribute to Lord Windlesham, was under much criticism. In 1988, he found himself who died on Tuesday 21 December, aged 78. We in a similarly criticised position, when he was caught remember him today principally in light of his role as between the political establishment and television Leader of your Lordships’ House from June 1973 documentary makers. His independent inquiry into until February 1974, but his was a career so much the factual accuracy of Thames TV’s “This Week” more than those turbulent and testing eight months. investigation into the shooting of three members of He was a man whose great qualities needed no titles to the IRA in Gibraltar prompted disagreement with shine through. He achieved a great deal in public life, No. 10 but won the support of the Independent but he was admired more than anything else for his Broadcasting Authority. quiet, tactful and sympathetic understanding of the David Windlesham mixed in equal measure a keen people and the issues that surrounded him. A liberal in sense of public service with an independent, liberal character and a Conservative in party, he was not and fair mind. He was generous in spirit and firm in afraid to be independent minded, even if that at times purpose. His political instincts and his media skill set him against those of his party. would not have looked out of place in a modern-day 1163 Deaths of Members[LORDS] Deaths of Members 1164 [LORD STRATHCLYDE] spoke to us on that occasion his commitment to these Administration. His understanding of many of the Benches and to our party’s values was as clear as his challenges that Governments of all ages continue to commitment to the House as a whole. David also face was acute and will be missed. Our thoughts and contributed much to a wider society, especially in prayers are with his family at this sad time. They and relation to the arts. He was a painter and had a studio we have lost a great man and a great friend. in Paris shortly before the war. He also contributed My Lords, although precedent may not provide for much to Franco-British relations. This House has lost this as such, it also seems right at this time to pay two very fine Members who were very fine servants of tribute to Lord Strabolgi, who died on 24 December, their own parties. Both will be missed on their respective aged 96. He was the 11th Baron. He succeeded his Benches but it is a tribute to them both that they will father as long ago as 1953, and during Wilson’s first also be much missed on all sides of your Lordships’ Government became a PPS at the Home Office and House. then, in 1969, PPS to Lord Shepherd as Leader of the House. After a spell as an opposition Whip in 1974 he became government Deputy Chief Whip, tasked with Lord Dholakia: My Lords, we associate this side of getting difficult and controversial business through the House with the tributes paid to Lord Windlesham the House.