HL Deb 12 December 1990 vol 524 c504
Viscount Davidson

My Lords, it may be for the convenience of the House if I say a brief word about the length of speeches in today's debate standing in the name of my noble friend Lord Elton, to which your Lordships have agreed to apply a five-hour time limit. The number of speakers is such that it is not necessary to apply a formal time limit, but I am sure that noble Lords would agree that it would conform with the spirit of these debates if, save for my noble friend Lord Elton opening and my noble friend Lord Ferrers, who will be winding up, speeches were kept within the 15 minutes maximum time limit, as recommended in the Companion.