§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, it may be for the convenience of your Lordships if I say a word at this point about the arrangements for this afternoon's short debates standing in the names of the noble Lords, Lord Houghton of Sowerby and Lord Lloyd of Hampstead. It is customary in short debates for the mover to be allowed approximately 15 minutes and for the Minister to rise to reply not less than 20 minutes before the scheduled end of the debate. This means that in the case of the short debate in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Houghton of Sowerby, all other speakers should be limited to a maximum of 10 minutes; and in that of the noble Lord, Lord Lloyd of Hampstead, to 12 minutes. If any noble Lord were to speak at greater length it would be at the expense of subsequent speakers in that particular debate.
§ Lord BeswickMy Lords, on a point of order, may I suggest to the noble Viscount the Leader of the House that, if he wants to curtail Questions it might be just as well to start curtailing them a little earlier?
§ Viscount WhitelawMy Lords, I stand corrected. I thought of doing that but I have to tell noble Lords that I would have had just as much difficulty in trying to curtail some of the earlier ones as I did in curtailing the last one. I try to give as much latitude as is at all possible to the House. but when we have taken 38 minutes I am sure that the noble Lord, who, after all, had considerable responsiblity in these matters at one time, will realise that enough can be enough, and if the House feels it, it is my job so to interpret it.