§ 3.9 p.m.
§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, at a convenient moment after 3.30 this afternoon my noble friend Lord Glenarthur will, with the leave of the House, repeat a Statement that is to be made in another place on the financing of the BBC.
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 Somers and Lord Hatch of Lusby. It is customary in short debates that the mover is allowed approximately 15 minutes and that the Minister should 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 Somers, all other speeches should be limited to a maximum of 10 minutes, and in the case of the debate in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Hatch of Lusby, to seven minutes. If any noble Lord were to speak at greater length, it would be at the expense of subsequent speakers in that debate.