§ 3.20 p.m.
§ Lord CarterMy Lords, at a convenient moment after 3.30 p.m., my noble friend Lady Blackstone will, with the leave of the House, repeat a Statement that is to be made in another place on the Dearing Report on Higher Education. I should like to take this opportunity to remind the House that the Companion indicates that discussion on a Statement after the Minister's initial reply to the Opposition spokesmen should be confined to "brief comments and questions for clarification". 1441 There is a mandatory limit of 20 minutes for Back-Benchers from the end of the Minister's initial reply to the Opposition spokesmen.
The House may be aware that, during proceedings on yesterday's Statement, two Back-Benchers occupied 11 minutes between them. My noble friend the Leader of the House was obliged to intervene. I hope he will not be obliged to do so again today.