§ Lord Pattenasked the Leader of the House:
Whether the House of Lords may be recalled separately from the House of Commons; and, if so, whether he will set out the procedures to bring this about. [HL5798]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)Each House of Parliament may be recalled separately.
In the House of Lords, Standing Order 16 sets out the procedures to bring about a recall. These procedures are entirely independent from the House of Commons recall procedures. Standing Order 16 states that:
"16 (1) If, during any adjournment of the House, the Lord Chancellor is satisfied that the public interest requires that the House should meet at a time earlier than that appointed, he may signify that he is so satisfied and notice shall be given and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in the notice, as if it had been duly adjourned to that time.
(2) If the Lord Chancellor is unable to act for the purposes of this Standing Order, the Chairman of Committees, after consultation with Her Majesty's Government may act in his stead.
(3) Notwithstanding any adjournment of the House, the House may meet for judicial business at a time earlier than that appointed if the Lord Chancellor or, in his absence, the senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary is satisfied that it should do so and has signified that he is so satisfied and has given notice to such Lords as he thinks fit."