MOD file DEFE 24/2032/1

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PQ 8530B
LORDS DEBATE ON UFOs : 18th JANUARY 1979
Thank you for your.minutes D/S4(Air)/8/3 of 15th and 16th
January forwarding a revised draft of the speech for
Lord Strabolgi and F.idditional background information
respectively.
2. I have discussed the revised speech vJitl1 Lord Strabolgi
and have made furthe:::- ·- largely editorial - amendrnents.
•.,
// I attach a copy of a letter which I handed to Lord Strabolgi
last night together with a fresh copy of the speech itself.
Lord Strabolgi \vill be reading the speech again today and
will let me know as soon as possible whether he wishes to have
the briefing meeting which you and have pencilled
in for 1130 tomorrow.
3. You might like to know that the deba1:e is causing a fair
amount of interest in the House of Lords. In addition to the
Earl of Clancarty others taking part will include (in the I
following order) Lord Trefgarne, the Earl of Kimberley,· IViscount St Davids, Lords Rankeillour, Kings-Norton, Gladv..ryn l
and Hewlett, the Bishop of Norwich, Earl Halsbury and ·1
Viscount Ox[uird (who will be making his maiden speech).
4. lrJe will not knmv for certain when the UFO debate will
start. It depends, of course, on how long the earlier
business tak~s, but it is unlikely to start before 1800. We
will keep in touch with the House of Lords throughout the
course of tomorrow afternoon and early evening and we will
let you kr"low as soon as we are needed. The d'ebate is likely
to last for betv-wcn two and three hours.
/5. ... .
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