Procedure and Privileges

Lord Duncan of Springbank Excerpts

Tuesday 13th July 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Goudie (Lab) [V]]

My Lords, I welcome the opportunity to discuss the commission’s proposal for procedures for the workings of the House of Lords from 6 September. We, as a Government and a country, are moving forward as global Britain with modern ideas for the future.

I have enjoyed working with the hybrid system. I have had no difficulties and any small problems were quickly remedied. The technical team is excellent. What is the rush for us to come back fully in September? Many companies, whether FTSE 100, FTSE 350 or large family firms, are offering their staff to come back in their own way or not to come back at all. I am not suggesting that, however.

The Prime Minister recently said:

“We’re removing the Government instruction to work from home where you can but we don’t expect that the whole country will return to their desk as one … We’re setting out guidance for business for a gradual return to work”.


This is why I question yet again the rush for us to come back.

Further, what does the committee mean by “disability”? A number of members of staff and many Members of this House are extremely vulnerable or having treatment, or have compromised immune systems. The Prime Minister urged us to think of others and to consider the risk. I ask noble Lords to consider the risk to ourselves and to the staff and gradually, over the next 12 months, to keep the hybrid model.

This model could be improved even further. The wi-fi on the estate is not up to speed or to the standard of many firms or other institutions. Will we invest more in wi-fi and further connections to the estate? In certain parts of the estate the wi-fi does not work at all. Trying to vote on your phone in the House is impossible. It is impossible to make a phone call. Wi-fi may work for a small number of colleagues, but we know from experience that the function declines with more people in. What is being done to improve it? We have been asking for a number of years but nothing has happened.

Card readers do not always function well when it comes to opening doors. They need to be looked at again and a fuller report given.

How are we going to circulate and filter the air in the Chamber, Committee Rooms and other rooms? Will further work be done on that? It is almost impossible to open windows. Is the House being fitted with proper air ducts to ensure safety for Members, staff and those who come in to give evidence? Social distancing should still be paramount, in particular in the Chamber and Committee Rooms. I can see Members looking very bored with this, but we have to do it. Social distancing is vital, as we know.

Experts warn of the inherent risks of rushing back. I will vote this afternoon in favour of the amendment moved by my noble friend Lord Adonis about starting earlier. We have to give further consideration to our working practices and we should not rush back on 6 September and throw everything away.

[The Deputy Speaker (Lord Duncan of Springbank) (Con)]

The noble Viscount, Lord Trenchard, has scratched, so I call the noble Lord, Lord Elder.

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park (Con)]

The noble Baroness keeps cutting out so it is probably best that we move to the next speaker.

[The Deputy Speaker (Lord Duncan of Springbank) (Con)]

Yes, the next speaker is the noble and learned Lord, Lord Judge, who is present.

[A noble Lord]

Do not cut out!