§ 3.8 p.m.
§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I should like to say a word about the two short debates standing in the names of the noble Lords, Lord Peston and Lord Carmichael of Kelvingrove. 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 debates. In the case of the short debate in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Peston, this means that all other speeches should be limited to a maximum of seven minutes and in that of the noble Lord, Lord Carmichael of Kelvingrove, to nine minutes. If any noble Lord should speak at greater length, it would be at the expense of subsequent speakers in that debate.