§ Lord Harris of Haringeyasked the Chairman of Committees:
When the procedural changes agreed to on Wednesday 24 July will take effect. [HL5641]
§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Tordoff)The Procedure Committee recommended (5th Report, paragraph 3), and the House has now agreed, that implementation should be phased in with effect from the start of the next Session (2002–03) as resources become available. The following changes will therefore take effect at the start of the Session:
- Additional topical Starred Question on Tuesday and Wednesday; Question Time on those days extended from 30 to 40 minutes;
- Number of topical Questions per Member per Session raised from two to four;
- Motion after Second Reading to commit each Bill to the appropriate committee (subject to amendment of Standing Order 47, which will be done in the spill-over);
- House normally to rise by about 10 pm on Monday to Wednesday;
New timetable for Thursday as follows:
- 11 am—House sits for public business
- 1.30 pm—House adjourns during pleasure
- 3 pm—House resumes, starting with Starred Questions
- 7.30 or earlier depending on business, for 1½ hours—Unstarred Questions (if desired).
The other matters will be introduced as resources become available.