Health and Safety at Work

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his splendid and comprehensive reply about a very serious issue and debate. I would also like to thank all colleagues who contributed with such widespread knowledge. Because it has been serious, I should like to end on a lighter note. I regret that the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, was unable to sing the piece that he wanted to sing or to tell his short story. Perhaps I will present the short story, but I will not sing it. My closing remarks earlier referred to the conduct of orchestras and the loss of hearing by those who play in them, as a result of excess decibels. I should like to relate to your Lordships the interesting and cautionary tale relating to a failure to have proper training in the instruments used for common work. I refer to Jean Baptiste Lully, who was the Italian-French composer and conductor in the court of Louis XIV. In those days, the smaller baton was not in use. A long stick was used to beat time in order to ensure that the orchestra was playing in harmony and together. So carried away was Jean Baptiste Lully with one of his best compositions that he raised the stick in the air, brought it down hard, stabbed himself in the foot and died of gangrene five days later. With that, I beg leave to withdraw the Motion for Papers. Motion for Papers, by leave, withdrawn.