Lord Harlech Portrait Lord Harlech (Con)
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I beg to move that further consideration on Report be adjourned and that the House be adjourned during pleasure until 10.15 pm.

Lord Harris of Haringey Portrait Lord Harris of Haringey (Lab)
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My Lords, has the noble Lord, Lord Harlech, seen paragraph 3.1 of the Companion? In case he has not—I know he is very new to this House—it states:

“It is a firm convention”—


not any old convention, but a firm convention—

“that the House normally rises by about 10pm on Mondays to Wednesdays”.

Can he explain why today is so different?

Lord Harlech Portrait Lord Harlech (Con)
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I take the noble Lord’s points on board. I think that my noble friend the Chief Whip answered those points at the Dispatch Box earlier today.

Lord Harris of Haringey Portrait Lord Harris of Haringey (Lab)
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I appreciate that the noble Lord is put in a difficult position, but all the Chief Whip said was that this is usual. When was the last occasion that this had to happen in the way that it is happening tonight?

Lord Harlech Portrait Lord Harlech (Con)
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Perhaps this is something to discuss with my noble friend the Chief Whip while the House adjourns during pleasure.