---

Address in Reply to Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech

My Lords, perhaps the noble and learned Lord, Lord Ackner, will forgive me. I am conscious of the noble Countess, Lady Mar, on the Woolsack and that noble Lords are advised that there is no strict control of timing. But I am also aware that if noble Lords, in general—I do not point the finger at anyone specific—speak for longer than nine minutes, the House will rise considerably beyond 11 pm.