§ Lord Rentonasked the Leader of the House:
What is the procedure for appeal against a preliminary decision on a Private Notice Question?
§ The Lord President of the Council (Viscount Whitelaw)As set out at page 76 of theCompanion to Standing Orders the decision whether a Private Notice Question is of sufficient urgency to justify an immediate reply rests in the first place with the Leader of the House. Although the Leader's decision is rarely questioned in this matter, a Lord may challenge his preliminary decision by appealing to the House to support him. The decision as to whether the question is of sufficient urgency then ultimately lies with the general sense of the House upon hearing that appeal. Private Notice Questions are always taken immediately after Starred Questions. It follows therefore that any appeal relating to a Private Notice 263WA Question should also take place immediately after Starred Questions. It happened last Monday (13th October at col. 525 of the Official Report) that an appeal to the House relating to a PNQ was not proceeded with immediately after Starred Questions and that a question relating to Business of the House was preferred. I had not in fact heard that an appeal was being made and I have apologised to the noble Lord concerned.