HL Deb 13 June 1984 vol 452 cc1119-20
Lord Denham

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I should like to say a brief word about the timing of the two short debates this afternoon. In the case of short debates, it is normal to suggest a maximum length of time for speeches. The principle adopted is that the mover should be entitled to approximately 15 minutes and that the Minister should rise to reply no later than 20 minutes before the scheduled end to the debate. On that basis I should like to suggest that speakers in the debate of the noble Lord. Lord Henderson of Brompton, should limit their speeches to a maximum of nine minutes, and speakers in the debate of the noble Lord, Lord Cameron of Balhousie, to a maximum or seven minutes. Perhaps I may add that if any noble Lord should speak at greater length, he would do so at the expense of later speakers in that particular debate.