Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Williams of Elvel (Labour). It was answered on Tuesday, 25 October 2011.

Companion to the Standing Orders

Question: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord the Leader of the House for that response. I am sure that he is absolutely right, but is he aware that during the passage of the Armed Forces Bill, at Report, the usual channels managed to stitch up a deal apparently in order to avoid Divisions at Report of that Bill, and postpone them to Third Reading? The deal transgressed not only the letter but the spirit of the Companion. Will he give us an assurance that that sort of deal will never happen again?

Answer: My Lords, I am well aware of the situation that arose on Report of the Armed Forces Bill. The reason why an agreement took place was so as to allow the Health and Social Care Bill Second Reading to be postponed from Tuesday 4 October to Tuesday 11 October. I think the whole House would have approved of that decision. These decisions were made by the usual channels, as I made clear, so as to help the House as a whole. I do not think there was any detriment in taking that decision.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 731 c654
Session: 2010-12
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: House of Lords Parliamentary procedure Whips Divisions Report stage
Legislation: Armed Forces Bill 2010-12
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk