HL Deb 02 October 2000 vol 616 cc205-6WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked the Leader of the House:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 12 July (WA 33) in relation to smoking and Government Ministers, whether it is in order for noble Lords, by means of the House of Lords Order Paper, to seek to persuade Ministers to alter their lifestyle in specific ways.[HL3609]

The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Jay of Paddington)

Guidance given on page 82 of theCompanion to Standing Orders states that "it is considered undesirable to incorporate statements of opinion or the demonstration of a point of view" into the text of Questions on the Order Paper. The purpose of the Questions on the Order Paper should be to elicit information, and not to make an argument.