§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, at a convenient moment after 3.30 this afternoon my noble friend the Leader of the House will, with the leave of the House, repeat a Statement that is to be made in another place on the European Council Meeting.
With the leave of the House I should like, in the normal way, to say a brief word about the timing of the two short debates this afternoon standing in the names of my noble friend Lord Massereene and Ferrard and the noble Lord, Lord Jenkins of Putney. It is usual to suggest putting a standard for such debates; but, following the principle 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 of the debate, the maximum for the debate in the name of my noble friend Lord Massereene and Ferrard will be as high as 14 minutes and that for the debate in the name of Lord Jenkins of Putney 12 minutes. Nevertheless, perhaps I should still point out that if any noble Lord should speak at even greater length, he would do so at the expense of later speakers in that particular debate.