Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Friday, 27 March 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 April 2026. It was answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Non-affiliated) on Monday, 13 April 2026 on behalf of the Senior Deputy Speaker (HL).

House of Lords: Speeches

Question

To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker what consideration the Procedure and Privileges Committee has given, if any, to introducing advisory speaking times for speeches at (1) report stage, and (2) ping pong.

Answer

The Procedure and Privileges Committee’s Third Report of session 2023-24 (HL Paper 73) recommended various changes intended to encourage brevity during the amending stages of bills, including at report stage and during Lords consideration of Commons amendments. It recommended that the advisory speaking time for backbench members during all amending stages should be reduced from 15 minutes to 10 minutes, except where a backbencher moves the lead amendment in a group (when they would have 15 minutes,). It also recommended guidance that members other than the minister pressing or withdrawing an amendment at the end of a debate should be brief. These recommendations were agreed by the House on 19 March 2024, and the guidance is set out in paragraph 4.41 of the Companion to the Standing Orders.

The report is available online here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5804/ldselect/ldproced/73/73.pdf and is attached to this answer.

The Procedure and Privileges Committee will continue to keep the House’s procedures under review.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL16135
Session
2024-26
Attachment
Procedure and Privileges Committee Report
Subjects
House of Lords Speeches Report stage Bills Procedure and Privileges Committee
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk