§ 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 Lord, Lord Allen of Abbeydale and the noble Earl, Lord Shannon. 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.
In the case of the short debate in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Allen of Abbeydale, this means that all other speeches should be limited to a maximum of 14 minutes, and in that of the noble Earl, Lord 658 Shannon, nine minutes. If any noble Lord should speak at greater length, it would be at the expense of subsequent speakers in that particular debate.