§ 3.10 p.m.
§ Lord HeskethMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I should like to say a few words about the length of speeches in today's debate standing in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Williams of Elvel, 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, all other speeches should not exceed 11 minutes. If any noble Lord should speak at greater length, he would be doing so at the expense of other speakers in the debate.
It may be useful if I remind your Lordships that when 11 minutes appears on the clock, the 12th minute will have begun.