Companion to the Standing Orders

Lord Geddes Excerpts

Tuesday 25th October 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Strathclyde]

My Lords, I can assure the noble Lord from personal observation that there were very few Members of the House of Lords—of all parties— present at the Conservative Party conference. They were far more likely to be attending to their duties in your Lordships’ House. It is true that the Chief Whip has announced that the House will sit next year during the week of the Conservative Party conference, but this is in large part due to representations that have been made to me and others from all parts of the House that they would rather come back earlier in October than sit in September, as we did this year.

[Lord Geddes]

Will my noble friend confirm that there is no such person in this House as “the noble Minister”? There is “the noble Lord the Minister and “the Minister” but there is no such person as “the noble Minister”.

[Lord Strathclyde]

My Lords, I can confirm that my noble friend is entirely correct.