Baroness Anelay of St Johns
My Lords, 51 speakers have signed up for the Second Reading of the Localism Bill today. If Back-Bench contributions are kept to 7 minutes, the House should be able to rise at around the target rising time of 11 o’clock. Of course, the advisory timing excludes the Minister’s opening and winding-up speeches and the opposition Front-Bench spokesperson’s opening and winding-up speeches. It might be convenient for the House if I remind colleagues of our guidance in paragraph 4.32 of the Companion, which states:
“A Member of the House who is taking part in a debate is expected to attend the greater part of that debate. It is considered discourteous for a Member not to be present for the opening speeches, for at least the speech before and following their own, and for the winding-up speeches”.
I am sure that that will assist us all to keep to an advisory speaking time.