§ 2.58 p.m.
Viscount LongMy Lords, after the end of the short debate on the arts and before the short debate on academic medicine, my noble friend Lord Lucas of Chilworth, with the leave of the House, will repeat in the form of a Statement an Answer to a Private Notice Question in another place on the balance of payments.
I should like to say a word about the arrangements for this afternoon's two short debates standing in the names of the noble Lords, Lord Donoughue and Lord Prys-Davies. On the principle 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 Donoughue, this means that all other speeches should be limited to a maximum of 5 minutes. If any noble Lord should speak at greater length he would do so at the expense of subsequent speakers in the debate. In the case of the short debate in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Prys-Davies, the number of speakers is such that it is not necessary to propose a formal time limit, but I am sure that noble Lords will agree that it would conform with the spirit of these short debates if they would keep their speeches within the 15 minutes which apply to the mover of the Motion.
§ Lord Donaldson of KingsbridgeMy Lords, would it be in order to ask the noble Viscount a question about these arrangements? I have already met one ex-chairman of the Arts Council and one head of a museum who are removing their names from the list of speakers because of the number already down on it. Would it not be possible, when there is more than a certain number of entries on the list, to have a "first-come, first-served" arrangement, so as to have a limit of something like 15? I should like the House to consider that.
Viscount LongMy Lords, I am grateful for the remarks of the noble Lord, Lord Donaldson, but the arrangements and the Standing Orders of the House are such that we have two-and-a-half-hour debates, and we must therefore stick to that. If there are too many speakers, this unfortunately cuts down the time for each speaker. It is not my fault that there are too many speakers.
§ Lord Donaldson of KingsbridgeMy Lords, I had not thought that it was the fault of the noble Viscount.