Written question asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon (Independent Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Strathclyde (Conservative) on Thursday, 3 November 2011.

House of Lords: Oral Statements

Question: To ask the Leader of the House, further to the Statement he repeated on 24 October concerning Libya and the European Council meeting (Official Report, cols. 550–3), whether in the future when two important and separate subjects are contained in one Statement they will arrange that forty minutes are available for back-bench questions.

Answer: Ministerial Oral Statements are made ““for the information of the House”” and ““should not be made the occasion for immediate debate”” (Companion 6.07). Twenty minutes is appropriate for backbench interventions on Statements, given the Companion guidance and the necessary balance between interest in a Statement and inconvenience to those Members who have come prepared for the day's expected business. In exceptional circumstances, however, the Usual Channels can agree to extend the time allocated to back-bench interventions on Statements, and have done ,so on several occasions this session.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 12951; 731 c291WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: European Council
Monday, 24 October 2011
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Lords
Subjects: House of Lords Parliamentary procedure Peers Ministerial statements Speeches
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk