§ 3.2 p.m.
§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I should like to say a word about the length of speeches in today's debate standing in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Ennals, to which your Lordships have agreed to apply a five-hour time limit. On the principle that the mover is allowed 20 minutes and that the Minister should rise to reply not less than 25 minutes before the scheduled end of the debate, no other speech should exceed nine minutes. I believe it is right to point out on this particular occasion that should any noble Lord speak at greater length, he would be doing so at the expense of other speakers.