Business: Oral Statements

Baroness Northover Excerpts

Tuesday 7th December 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Northover]

My Lords, at its meeting yesterday the Procedure Committee discussed the conduct of Oral Statements, during which it was suggested that it might be helpful to remind the House of the relevant guidance in the Companion to the Standing Orders. I therefore remind the House of that guidance. It states:

“Ministerial statements are made for the information of the House … and should not be made the occasion for immediate debate”.

The 20 minutes for Back-Bench questions and answers should therefore take the form of brief comments and questions. Brief interventions from Back-Bench Members will of course allow more Members to participate in the discussion overall.