Chairman of Committees

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 4:34 pm on 9 May 2012.

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Photo of The Bishop of London The Bishop of London Bishop 4:34, 9 May 2012

My Lords, the mention of prayers gives me my cue to speak from these Benches in welcoming the appointment of the noble Lord, Lord Sewel, to his position, and in joining in the gratitude of the House to the noble Lord, Lord Brabazon of Tara. Because of his role, he has been an habitué of these Benches, and his whispered commentary on the proceedings of the House have been never less than illuminating-although as a Bishop, and being a terminus rather than a junction, my lips are sealed as to what he was actually saying. He is a person who loves this House and its traditions, and we all, I think, honour him for that.

The noble Lord is also not a hasty and restless innovator. When questioned on the eternal matter of Prayers, about which Members of your Lordships' House occasionally get somewhat testy and irritable, he said:

"Recent changes to the form of Prayers included allowing a choice from a range of Psalms, which was agreed by the House in 1970, and again in 1979, and one or two other minor changes. It might be a little premature to consider changing them now".-[Hansard, 31/3/11; col. 1340.]

How good it is that we still have in this House someone who exemplifies that famous 19th century Prime Minister's view: "Why do you want to change things? Aren't they bad enough as they are?".

Motion agreed nemine dissentiente.