Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)
My Lords, I thought it would be useful to the House to set out the plan for proceedings this Thursday, which are slightly different to usual to enable us to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, paying tribute to those whose service we honour this week.
The House will sit, as usual, at 11 am but for Prayers only. We will then adjourn at around 11.05 am to allow noble Lords with tickets to attend the service at Westminster Abbey and for the Mace to process to the abbey. That service will start at noon. Noble Lords attending should make their way to the Chamber for Prayers or by 11.05 am to join the procession. Black Rod will give everyone a short briefing before setting off. The House will resume shortly before noon for the national two-minute silence to mark VE Day. This will be broadcast, and noble Lords who wish to join should be in the Chamber by 11.55 am. The broadcast will begin just before noon and the beginning of the two-minute silence will be announced by the Deputy Speaker on the Woolsack and the Division Bells will ring for those outside the Chamber who also want to observe the silence.
Once the silence is finished, we will proceed immediately to the first Oral Question—that will be around 12.02 pm. The first Question will be asked by the noble Earl, Lord Russell, and answered by the noble Lord, Lord Khan of Burnley. After Oral Questions are finished, we will move straight on to the main business, which will be the Employment Rights Bill. I hope that assists noble Lords and clarifies how business will work on Thursday. I have arranged for an email explaining this further to be sent to all noble Lords.