Letter - Seeking Informal Approval for a Writ in Acceleration for Lord Willoughby de Eresby [1950-11-23]

COPY.

My dear Lascelles,

As you know, the office of Lord Great Chamberlain is now held by Lord Willoughby de Eresby, acting as deputy for his father by agreement between the parties interested and by permission of His Majesty. Lord Willoughby is not, however, at present a member of the House of Lords, and this is something of a handicap to him in the exercise of his office. He is not admitted to the sittings of the House, nor is he more than an observer at meetings of the Offices Committee, and he is only by courtesy allowed access to certain parts of the House.

The Prime Minister has, therefore, come to the conclusion that it would be of great advantage to Lord Willoughby in the exercise of his office, and also of benefit to the House of Lords, if Lord Willoughby were a Peer in his own right. It is not suggested that a new peerage should be created in Lord Willoughby’s favour, and this is not, in fact, necessary. What the Prime Minister would like to propose is that Lord Willoughby should be called up in one of his father’s baronies. If The King were willing to approve such a recommendation, the Home Secretary would then be directed to issue a Warrant to the Lord Chancellor for a Writ of Summons to Parliament to be issued to Lord Willoughby. The barony would again merge in the Earldom of Ancaster when Lord Willoughby succeeds his father.

The Prime Minister therefore wishes me to ask whether a recommendation in the sense outlined above would have the informal approval of The King.

Yours sincerely,

(SGD.) D.H.F. RICKETT.