Arrangement of Business

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Excerpts

Monday 22nd October 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

My Lords, the next business is not time limited. As noble Lords are aware, the Companion guidance on debates such as this states that the mover of the debate—in this case my noble friend Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market—has about 20 minutes in which to speak and the Minister responding has about the same time. All other noble Lords contributing to the debate can speak for up to 15 minutes. I and other Whips on duty this evening will do nothing other than help noble Lords to follow the guidance in the Companion. However, as the debate is starting just after seven o’clock and 22 speakers have signed up to it, noble Lords might like to know that if the House wishes to rise at about 10 o’clock this evening, the average time for people to speak in order to come in at around that time would be in the order of six to seven minutes. However, I stress again that the Whips on duty will not try to intervene in any way. I just thought that noble Lords would find it helpful to have that guidance.