HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

Motions
General
6.46 In a normal full session every Thursday 1 from the beginning of the
session until the end of June is set aside for general debates. The House
has agreed that it is desirable that there should be regular debates on
general topics, and on select committee reports, in prime time. 2
6.47 Motions are tabled on the order paper in the name of one
member only. It is not the practice to add names of other members in
support of a motion.
The leave of the House is not sought when a motion is moved.
The motion is moved as follows: “I beg to move the motion
standing in my name on the order paper”. 3
Every motion, after it has been moved, must be proposed in the
form of a Question from the Woolsack before debate takes place
upon it.
Motions, other than for the Humble Address in reply to the
Queen’s Speech, are not seconded.
At the conclusion of the debate, the mover has the right of reply.
The Lord on the Woolsack or in the Chair then completes the
Question on the motion, if necessary reading its terms. He does
not complete the Question until every member of the House who
wishes to speak has spoken. The mover of a motion always has
the right of reply at the end of the debate. At the end of his
speech in reply, the mover may either withdraw the motion or
press it.
It is contrary to the practice of the House for a Question once
decided to be put again in the same session.
6.48 General guidance on the wording of motions may be found above
at paragraphs 6.11–6.22.
1 Procedure 6th Rpt 2005–06.
2 Procedure 5th Rpt 2001–02.
3 If a member of the House is absent when a motion standing in his name is called and he has
authorised another member to act on his behalf, that member may do so, explaining the
situation. Otherwise, the motion cannot be proceeded with on that day unless unanimous
leave is granted by the House. See paragraph 3.38.
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