Procedure and Privileges Committee

Debate between Lord Balfe and Baroness Manzoor

Tuesday 5th July 2022 Lords Chamber

[Lord Balfe (Con)]

My Lords, I have tabled a very small amendment to the amendment in the name of my noble friend Lord Taylor, purely to ask that we look at having normal voting time ending at 8 pm. I realise that there are all sorts of complications about votes that can be taken on quorums and other things, and that is why I have asked for this to be looked at by this committee.

I ask noble Lords to remember that many of us do not live in London, and if we are going to get home, we need to leave this place at a reasonable hour. The House—particularly the Leader of the House—has resolutely set her face against any form of overnight allowance for those of us who do not have properties in London, so we are faced with a bit of an opportunity: either we stay or we go. We do not seem to have any official pairing system, though I look at the Benches opposite and thank various noble Lords from the Labour Party who have agreed with me when I have said, “Shall we both go now?”

If we are going to get around this body being London dominated, I feel that we have to look at the democratic pursuit of giving a vote. Far too often, I have stayed in this House until 10 pm—

[Baroness Manzoor (Con)]

Of course, for some of us who live further than just outside London, we could not finish at 8 pm and still get home. I just wanted to make that point.

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)]

My Lords, surely the best way to allow people to get home is to have more reasonable sittings, during sociable hours.