3
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Family Property:
[LORDS]
Lord CARRINGTON: My Lords, I think that the voluntary organisations ought to take heart from the fact that almost everyone who has asked questions has paid tribute to them, and I do not know that it would be possible to deal with this matter were it not for them.
Lord DAVIES of LEEK: My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord, first, whether we still have diplomatic information from Hanoi-or Ho Chi Minh city-which is of use to the noble Lord? Secondly, is the noble Lord aware that those of us who have seen the devastation of 30 years' war in Vietnam feel that there will be no modification of the bitter Communist policy until there is some co-ordinated policy of aid towards a country that has been devastated by insecticides and pesti- cides that cause teratological differences to the people and which are causing immense difficulty in the problem of growing enough rice today? I believe that that problem, too, should be con- sidered at the Geneva Conference, which should not be concerned only with justifying what is happening to the boat people; indeed this other matter must not be omitted.
Lord CARRINGTON: My Lords, we have an embassy representation in Vietnam, and obviously we receive from them a good account of what is happening. Regarding the noble Lord's second question, of course one must have regard to the causes of problems and the history of a country, but I believe that in any other situation noble Lords opposite, and noble Lords on this side of the House, would say that this was a blatant exhibition of racialism.
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Law Commission Report
date certain enactments relating to the registration, inspection and conduct of residential homes for the disabled, old or mentally disordered persons and to the provision by district councils of meals and recreation for old people. I beg to move that this Bill be now read a first time.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 1o.- (The Lord Chancellor.)
On Question, Bill read 1a, and to be printed.
FAMILY PROPERTY:
LAW COMMISSION REPORT
3.16 p.m.
Lord SIMON of GLAISDALE rose to call attention to the Third Report of the Law Commission on Family Property and to the need to reform the law of married women's property; and to move for Papers. The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move the Motion that stands in my name on the Order Paper. I am sorry that only a few noble Lords have put down their names to speak in the debate. I am quite certain that that is not due to any lack of interest in the subject; indeed, the number of witnesses and the weight of evidence given to the Law Commission is proof to the contrary
particularly the evidence given by the Married Women's Association. I think that your Lordships have suffered from the lack of Order Papers, from the difficulty of coming by the Law Commission's Report -I myself had to borrow the Printed Paper Office's only copy--and finally there was the cancellation of the first balloted Motion.
Your Lordships will unfortunately be
NHS: ROYAL COMMISSION REPORT thereby deprived of hearing my noble and
Lord DENHAM: My Lords, with the leave of the House, at a convenient moment after 3.30 this afternoon my noble friend Lord Cullen of Ashbourne will repeat a Statement being made in another place on the Report of the Royal Com- mission on the National Health Service.
RESIDENTIAL HOMES BILL [H.L.]
The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone): My Lords, I beg to introduce a Bill to consoli-
learned friend Lord Scarman speak on this matter, on which he is a great authority, since he is engaged in jusidical duties at this moment. I am particularly sorry because I know that the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack was anxious to hear the views of your Lordships on the Law Commission's proposals. I am very glad that the noble Lord, Lord McGregor of Durris, is to speak because he is an incom- parable authority on this matter. At any rate, the debate gives your Lordships an opportunity to hear about the thinking of the Lord Chancellor himself on these questions.
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