§ Baroness Masham of Iltonasked the Leader of the House:
Whether he considers it satisfactory that spaces for Starred Questions are fully filled by the second day of the Session; and, if not, whether he will refer the matter to the Procedure Committee.
§ The Lord President of the Council (Viscount Whitelaw)The Procedure Committee have considered the rules for Starred Questions on numerous occasions in recent years, as appears in the Second Report 1983–84, the First Report 1982–83 and the First Report 1981–82. The present practice, whereby no Lord is allowed to have more than three Starred Questions on the Order Paper at any one time, was only agreed to as a permanent procedural rule in February 1983. Accordingly, I would not wish to ask the Procedure Committee to reopen this question, although the noble Baroness is, of course, entitled to do so if she wishes.