Arrangement of Business

Monday 12th December 2011 Grand Committee

Announcement

16:14

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, the Statement or Division is likely to occur very shortly. Unless any noble Lords object, I propose to adjourn the Committee until after the Statement.

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Lord Skelmersdale)]

My Lords, this is a most unusual procedure. I note that the Opposition Front Bench spokesman has not yet finished speaking in the Chamber, nor has the Minister responded. However, I am of course in the hands of the Grand Committee.

[The Marquess of Lothian]

In referring to the end of the Statement, does the noble Earl mean the end of my noble friend Lord Strathclyde’s Statement or the end of proceedings on the Statement as a whole, which I see has been extended to 40 minutes?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, I was referring to the end of the proceedings on the Statement. If the Committee wants, it can start considering the report but my advice is to adjourn.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

My Lords, what is happening in the Chamber is fairly open-ended. If we adjourn, by the time the Statement and all the interventions are finished it could be quite late. A number of noble Lords wish to speak in this Committee and it could drag on and on. It might create problems for the Grand Committee in terms of the time we are able to meet. I counsel us to continue.

[Lord Tunnicliffe]

My Lords, perhaps I may suggest a compromise—that we proceed with the debate and adjourn when the Statement is notified.