Arrangement of Business

Lord Deben Excerpts

Friday 30th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Pannick (CB)]

I have two questions. Will the Chief Whip confirm that whether the Parliament Act is invoked is entirely a matter for the House of Commons? Does he agree that the reason that the Parliament Act is being discussed at the moment is because this is day 8 of Committee and we are still on Clause 1?

[Lord Deben (Con)]

I was not going to intervene, but the reason that we are here is, to be frank, that we have received no answers on any of the points raised by the proposers of the Bill. We have no idea what amendments might be laid. If the proposers of the Bill were to show themselves much more willing to listen to the problems we have, we might well be able to move faster. But I am a bit tired of the general campaign that suggests that this House, in doing its job, is somehow or other behaving badly.

[Lord Blunkett (Lab)]

Before my noble friend responds, I just want to say that when I have not been able to sit in the House in Committee, I have followed the debate. Does my noble friend agree that it would be really helpful if people debated the Bill that is before us and not one that is being made up from outside this House?