HL Deb 24 July 1972 vol 333 cc1042-3

3.0 p.m.

Seventh Report from the Select Committee considered.

The Committee's Report was as follows: 1. QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

The Committee wish to remind the House that when a Minister undertakes in the House to write to a noble Lord on a matter of general interest to the House, it is open to that or any other noble Lord to ensure that the Minister's reply is available to the House by putting down a Question for Written Answer. The Committee recommend the use of this procedure in appropriate cases when the subject matter is of general interest to the House as a whole. 2. DIVISIONS On several occasions recently Peers intending to vote in a Division have gone to a Division Lobby at the end of six minutes and have found that the Tellers have already left the lobby under the impression that all Lords who wished to vote had already done so. The Committee wish to remind Tellers that under paragraph 6 of their present instructions (Companion: Appendix A):— " After six minutes the Tellers must remain in the Lobbies until they are satisfied that all Lords who wish to vote in their lobby have done so." This means that Tellers should remain for a reasonable time after the six minutes have expired, even though no further Lords appear in their lobby. The Committee also recommend that the Tellers should return to the House by the entrance to the Lobby and not, as they now do, by the exit from the Lobby. This would reduce the risk of their missing a Lord who comes to vote at the last moment.
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL)

My Lords, I beg to move that his Report be agreed to.

Moved, That the Report be agreed to.—(The Earl of Listowel.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.