Question

To ask the Leader of the House what status members who are not members of the main political parties or the crossbenches have in relation to the order of speaking or asking supplementary questions.

The House of Lords is self-regulating. As such it is in the hands of the House to determine who it wishes to hear from when two or more members rise to speak.

At question time it is my responsibility to assist the House in that respect. For debates that require a list of speakers, the final order of speaking is drawn up by the Government Whips’ Office following consultation in the usual channels. In both settings it is customary for speakers from different parties or parts of the House to take turns (see Companion to the Standing Orders, paragraph 4.25).