My Lords, I beg to acquaint the House that a Commission has been issued under Her Majesty’s Great Seal to several Lords therein named authorising the said Lords to declare in the name and on behalf of Her Majesty Her Majesty’s approbation of the choice of the Commons of Mr John Bercow to be their Speaker Then, the Lords Commissioners (the Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Evans of Bowes Park), the Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler), Baroness Smith of Basildon, Lord Newby and Lord Hope of Craighead) being robed and seated in front of the Throne, the Lord Privy Seal directed Black Rod as follows: Let the Commons know that the Lords Commissioners desire their immediate attendance in this House Then, the Commons being at the Bar, Mr Speaker-Elect (Mr John Bercow), addressing the Royal Commissioners, said: My Lords, I have to acquaint your Lordships that, in obedience to the Royal Command, Her Majesty’s faithful Commons have, in the exercise of their undoubted rights and privileges, proceeded to the election of a Speaker, and that their choice has fallen upon myself. I therefore present myself to your Lordships’ Bar and submit myself with all humility to Her Majesty’s gracious Approbation.
Mr John Bercow, we are commanded to assure you that Her Majesty is so fully sensible of your zeal in the public service, and of your ample sufficiency to execute the arduous duties which her faithful Commons have selected you to discharge, that Her Majesty does most readily approve and confirm you as their Speaker The Speaker of the House of Commons said: My Lords, I submit myself with all humility and gratitude to Her Majesty’s gracious Commands. It is now my duty, in the name of and on behalf of the Commons of the United Kingdom, to lay claim, by humble petition to Her Majesty, to all their ancient and undoubted rights and privileges, especially to freedom of speech in debate, to freedom from arrest, and to free access to Her Majesty whenever occasion shall arise, and that the most favourable construction shall be put upon all their proceedings. With regard to myself, I pray that, if in the discharge of my duties I shall inadvertently fall into any error, it may be imputed to myself alone, and not to Her Majesty’s most faithful Commons.
Mr Speaker, we have it further in Command to inform you that Her Majesty does most readily confirm all the rights and privileges which have ever been granted to or conferred upon the Commons by Her Majesty or any of her Royal predecessors. With respect to yourself, Sir, though Her Majesty is sensible that you stand in no need of such assurance, Her Majesty will ever place the most favourable construction upon your words and actions Mr Speaker and the Commons then retired.
My Lords, I regret to inform the House of the deaths of the noble Lord, Lord Bagri, on 26 April, the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Swynnerton, on 7 May, the noble Lord, Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, on 8 May, and the noble Lord, Lord Bridges, on 27 May. On behalf of the House, I extend our condolences to the noble Lords’ families and friends.
My Lords, I should also like to notify the House of the retirements with effect from 2 May of the noble Lord, Lord May of Oxford; with effect from 4 May of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Millett; with effect from 18 May of the noble Baroness, Lady Lockwood; with effect from 19 May of the noble Lord, Lord Hattersley; with effect from 8 June of the noble Marquess, Lord Salisbury; with effect from 9 June of the noble Lord, Lord Simon of Highbury; and with effect from 13 June of the noble Lord, Lord Walpole, pursuant to Section 1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014. On behalf of the House, I should like to thank the noble Lords for the service that they gave to the House.
My Lords, I also have to notify the House that the noble Baroness, Lady Turner of Camden, and the noble Lord, Lord Wolfson of Sunningdale, yesterday ceased to be Members of the House under Section 2 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014 by virtue of not attending any proceedings of the House during the Session 2016-17. On behalf of the House, I should like to thank the noble Lords for the service that they gave to the House.