§ 3.6 p.m.
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, I should like to say a word about this afternoon's short debates standing in the names of the noble Lords, Lord Holme of Cheltenham and Lord Hampton. As the mover is allowed 15 minutes and the Minister should rise to reply not less than 20 minutes before the scheduled end of the debate, in the case of the first short debate in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Holme of Cheltenham, 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. In the care of the short debate in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Hampton, it means that all other speeches should be limited to a maximum of 12 minutes. If any noble Lord should speak at greater length he would do so at the expense of subsequent speakers in the debate.