Roads: Roadworks

Lord Barnett Excerpts

Wednesday 28th November 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lea of Crondall]

My Lords, would the noble Lord like to express his condolences to Hampshire County Council for every time that it has done a major job—

[Lord Barnett]

My Lords—

[Lord Lea of Crondall]

I started first; he is a Privy Counsellor—okay.

[Lord Barnett]

Is the noble Earl aware that the disruption outside this House over the past couple of days has caused great difficulty for Members who have to come and go by car or taxi? I declare an interest as one of those. That disruption is as nothing compared with what Black Rod has done to Members of this House with the system that is now in place. Will the Minister ask the Leader of the House to have a word with Black Rod to revert to the previous position where Members could come and go rather more easily?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, I am sure that my noble friend the Leader of the House heard exactly what the noble Lord said. Fortunately, I am responsible for Her Majesty’s Government, not for Black Rod.