Business of the House: Adjournment (Hansard, 6 May 2004)

§ Lord Davies of Oldham
My Lords, I am in the invidious position of having to move an adjournment of the House because we are not due to start our next business until ten minutes to three o'clock. I am aware of the fact that there has been some error in my office with regard to the timing of the speeches in this debate. I have not had time to investigate the matter, but I will look into it. However, if a mistake has been made and noble Lords have been misled about the length of time they had for their speeches, I shall certainly see that it is examined closely to ensure that it does not happen again.
Noble Lords will recognise that the Whips' Office provides a service to the whole House. It is rare for us to make a mistake of this kind, but it looks as though one has been made here. I shall repeat the apologies which preceded the debate and, I repeat, will ensure that it does not happen again. I am grateful to the noble Earl, Lord Attlee, for mentioning this point during the course of his remarks.

§ Earl Attlee
My Lords, I think that the Minister ought to be made aware that the speakers' list is frequently late.

§ Lord Davies of Oldham
My Lords, there may be reasons for that. I shall look into the position closely, but on this occasion not only was the list late, but the information provided was not accurate. That has caused everyone some considerable inconvenience. Nevertheless, given the cogency with which views were expressed in the debate, I do not think that its quality was lessened in any way, shape or form. However, I regret the errors that have been made.

§ Baroness Byford
My Lords, if the noble Lord is making inquiries in the Whips' Office, it would be immensely helpful if he could look into another matter. When I came down to the Peers' Entrance five minutes before we were due to start Question Time, the amendment groupings list was not ready because it was still being run off the press in the Whips' Office. If 1273 the Minister is going to look into the matter raised by my noble friend, I should be grateful if he could also examine my point. Noble Lords taking part in consideration of the Children Bill had to go back upstairs to make sure that the sequence in which amendments were to be taken had not been changed. However, some had been altered.

§ Lord Davies of Oldham
My Lords, that point is at least as serious as the first matter I addressed. I shall certainly undertake to look into it. Once again, I apologise to the House. If noble Lords will forgive me, I feel obliged to move that the House do now adjourn during pleasure until 2.50 p.m.
Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.