§ 3.8 p.m.
§ Lord HeskethMy Lords, I should like to say a word about today's debates, standing in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Bruce of Donington, and the noble and learned Lord, Lord Simon of Glaisdale. As the mover is allowed 15 minutes, the Front Bench spokesmen at least 10 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 debate in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Bruce of Donington, all other speeches should be limited to a maximum of seven minutes and in that of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Simon of Glaisdale, 12 minutes. I should remind your Lordships that, if any noble Lord were to speak at greater length, he would be doing so at the expense of subsequent speakers in the debate and that the hour is one minute beyond that which shows on the digital annunciator.
§ Lord TordoffMy Lords, is it not the case that the Procedure Committee recently passed through your Lordships' House an arrangement whereby the Opposition wind-up speakers should have a few more minutes and that, in relation to today's debates, the speakers on the Opposition Front Benches will have 10 minutes each?
§ Lord HeskethMy Lords, yes.