Lord Speaker: Powers Debate

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Department: Leader of the House
Thursday 31st January 2019

(5 years, 9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Portrait Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
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I agree with the noble Baroness. I believe that self-regulation works and characterises this House. It means that we do not need to resort, for instance, to selection of amendments and force groupings, programme Motions or guillotines, none of which, I think, would noble Lords want to be introduced to the House.

Lord Newby Portrait Lord Newby (LD)
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Does the noble Baroness the Leader of the House agree with me that this modest proposal from the noble Lord, Lord Grocott, which would give the Speaker some powers to moderate the way we deal with Questions, does not necessarily imply a wholesale change in the role of the Lord Speaker? This is simply a straightforward, stand-alone reform that is long overdue.

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Portrait Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
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The noble Lord is of course a member of the Procedure Committee so he will no doubt make his views heard when a discussion is had.