HL Deb 16 March 1994 vol 553 cc234-5

2.55 p.m.

The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Wakeham)

My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.

Moved, That the debate on the Motion in the name of the Baroness Jay of Paddington set down for this day shall be limited to 3 hours and that in the name of the Lord Williams of Elvel to 2½ hours.—(Lord Wakeham.)

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, by way of support and in brief explanation, as colleagues will have seen on the Order Paper, there are about 60 noble Lords wishing to speak in the three items of business before us. The reason why the timing for these debates has been put down somewhat late is because of the anxiety to try to get the best balance of time between the two debates which lie within the gift of these Benches. As far as we are concerned, we are exercising our right under the changing rule which the Procedure Committee has taken into account; namely, the number of speakers and how best to use them between debates on a particular day. It is a vexed question and no doubt one which will continue to be referred to the Procedure Committee I am grateful to the noble Lord the Leader of the House for tabling this Motion, which is in accordance, I believe, with the best wishes of the House.

On Question, Motion agreed to.