Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 10 February 2010.

House of Lords: Companion to the Standing Orders

Question: My Lords, have not attempts over the past week more vigorously to enforce the Companion clearly indicated, despite some success, that some Members simply ignore or refuse to accept the authority of the government Front Bench? That being the case, should not the Procedure Committee be prevailed on to ask the Lord Speaker to intervene and act to defend the finer aspects of self-regulation?

Answer: My Lords, I believe that many Members of this House strongly support self-regulation, and I believe that most Members of this House accept the authority of the House. I, of course, was present yesterday and I think that most of the House were very much with me yesterday in what I was doing. The role set out for the Leader in the Companion is simply to draw the House’s attention to the guidance in the Companion and to any transgressions of the guidance. In relation to the Procedure Committee, I know that on the Benches behind me, and in other parts of the House, there is a strong desire for change—not throughout the House, but on the Benches behind me. I suggest that if any Members wish to take matters to the Procedure Committee, they can so do.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 717 c725
Session: 2009-10
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Conduct House of Lords Parliamentary procedure Peers Self-regulation Lord Speaker
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk