There is slight unhappiness that the noble Lord, who is probably speaking for longer than the permitted limit, will not stay for the end.

There is slight unhappiness that the noble Lord, who is probably speaking for longer than the permitted limit, will not stay for the end.

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords, when on Monday and Tuesday of last week your Lordships debated a Motion not dissimilar from today’s, most noble Lords opened their remarks by saying that in their view this House badly needed a reform, but not that one. Much the same could be said about today. I...

My Lords, when on Monday and Tuesday of last week your Lordships debated a Motion not dissimilar from today’s, most noble Lords opened their remarks by saying that in their view this House badly needed a reform, but not that one. Much the same could be said about today. I...

My Lords, having been a Member of your Lordships’ House for an inordinate length of time, I have often had it said to me that I must have seen a lot of changes in the House over the years. I always give the same reply, that what amazes me is...

My Lords, having been a Member of your Lordships’ House for an inordinate length of time, I have often had it said to me that I must have seen a lot of changes in the House over the years. I always give the same reply, that what amazes me is...

To ask the Chairman of Committees whether he will place in the Library of the House the agendas of Procedure Committee meetings to ensure that non-members of the committee have an opportunity to make their views known to members in advance of meetings.

To ask the Chairman of Committees whether he will place in the Library of the House the agendas of Procedure Committee meetings to ensure that non-members of the committee have an opportunity to make their views known to members in advance of meetings.

My Lords, I am going to limit what I say to Part 5 of the Bill, "The House of Lords", and, of that, only Section 67 which deals with the elected hereditary Peers and their replacement. Having looked at that part of the Bill itself, I then took up the...

My Lords, I am going to limit what I say to Part 5 of the Bill, "The House of Lords", and, of that, only Section 67 which deals with the elected hereditary Peers and their replacement. Having looked at that part of the Bill itself, I then took up the...

My Lords, the negotiations went on throughout the course of the Bill. I was around at the time. I am so sorry; the noble Lord, Lord Steel, may wish to confuse himself like this, but it just simply is not true. This was an honourable meeting between parties to try...

My Lords, the negotiations went on throughout the course of the Bill. I was around at the time. I am so sorry; the noble Lord, Lord Steel, may wish to confuse himself like this, but it just simply is not true. This was an honourable meeting between parties to try...

My Lords, would the noble Baroness really be prepared to see the agreement broken between the Government and the Opposition on hereditary Peers?

My Lords, would the noble Baroness really be prepared to see the agreement broken between the Government and the Opposition on hereditary Peers?

Before the noble Lord leaves Part 5, I believed that the whole package offered by the Government to hereditary Peers would be honoured until the final and definitive stage of reform had taken place. Where did I go wrong?

Before the noble Lord leaves Part 5, I believed that the whole package offered by the Government to hereditary Peers would be honoured until the final and definitive stage of reform had taken place. Where did I go wrong?

The whole point is that this was a promise given by the Government that caused me to vote for getting the Bill through quickly, which I would not otherwise have done. The Government are reneging on that promise. I cannot understand how they can do that.

The whole point is that this was a promise given by the Government that caused me to vote for getting the Bill through quickly, which I would not otherwise have done. The Government are reneging on that promise. I cannot understand how they can do that.

I am not interested in what the noble Lord, Lord Steel, said. I would like an answer from the Government.

I am not interested in what the noble Lord, Lord Steel, said. I would like an answer from the Government.

The noble Baroness said that she would like to see the elections for hereditary Peers end. She was in on all the agreements and ways the promises were made. Would she really sleep happy in her bed tonight if she let those promises be broken?

The noble Baroness said that she would like to see the elections for hereditary Peers end. She was in on all the agreements and ways the promises were made. Would she really sleep happy in her bed tonight if she let those promises be broken?

My Lords, I have been listening to the responses of the noble Lord, Lord West of Spithead, with great interest, but I do not think he has replied to the question put by my noble friend Lady Neville-Jones about releasing documents to the press before they are made available to...

My Lords, I have been listening to the responses of the noble Lord, Lord West of Spithead, with great interest, but I do not think he has replied to the question put by my noble friend Lady Neville-Jones about releasing documents to the press before they are made available to...

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the post office in the Central Lobby of the Palace of Westminster is one of those under threat of closure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the post office in the Central Lobby of the Palace of Westminster is one of those under threat of closure.

My Lords, I hope that the noble Lord the Lord Chairman of Committees will not be misled by the tone of some of the speeches into being unaware of the real feeling of disquiet among many of your Lordships about what has taken place. Decisions have been taken on matters...

My Lords, I hope that the noble Lord the Lord Chairman of Committees will not be misled by the tone of some of the speeches into being unaware of the real feeling of disquiet among many of your Lordships about what has taken place. Decisions have been taken on matters...

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many, and which, regularly funded theatre-based producing companies in the regions were supported by Arts Council England (ACE) in 2007–08; and how many, and which, ACE plans to support, subject to an appeal process, in 2008–09.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many, and which, regularly funded theatre-based producing companies in the regions were supported by Arts Council England (ACE) in 2007–08; and how many, and which, ACE plans to support, subject to an appeal process, in 2008–09.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the annual subsidy per seat actually sold in the producing theatres funded by Arts Council England in London and the regions, for the last year for which figures are available; and what is the total seat capacity of those theatres.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the annual subsidy per seat actually sold in the producing theatres funded by Arts Council England in London and the regions, for the last year for which figures are available; and what is the total seat capacity of those theatres.