HL Deb 15 December 2003 vol 655 c949
Lord Grocott

My Lords, I wish to make a brief business statement. At a convenient time after 3.30 p.m.—after the three opening speeches—my noble friend the Leader of the House will repeat a Statement on the European Council meeting.

As regards the length of today's two debates, if contributions other than the opening and closing speeches and the normal exemptions were kept to around eight minutes, I calculate that we will finish by about 10.30 p.m. That is past the normal time but not disastrously so.