HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament
HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament
Seating in the Chamber 1.54 The side of the House on the Sovereign’s right hand when she is seated on the Throne is called the spiritual side, and that on the left the temporal side. 1.55 By convention the government and their supporters occupy the benches on the spiritual side, with the exception of the first two benches nearest to the Throne, which are taken by the bishops. Lords Spiritual must speak from the bishops’ benches. Only the two Archbishops and the Bishops of London, Durham and Winchester may speak from the front one of these benches, and they also have priority in relation to seating on this bench. Lords Temporal may sit on the bishops’ benches, when space allows, but may not speak from them. 1.56 The benches on the temporal side are, by convention, occupied by the opposition parties. Originally there were only two benches on the temporal side of the House, namely, the Earls’ Bench (at the front) and the Barons’ Bench, adjacent to the wall. There are now five benches, but the lowest or front bench continues to be known as the Earls’ Bench, and the highest bench, abutting the wall, as the Barons’ Bench. The official opposition party occupies the centre block and the benches nearest the Bar. The other opposition parties occupy the upper end of the Earls’ Bench and the benches behind it. The diagram at the end of chapter 1 shows the usual seating arrangements. 1.57 The Cross Benches are for those who are not members of any of the main political parties in the House 1 . 1.58 On both sides of the Chamber the front benches below the gangway are customarily occupied by Privy Counsellors. Steps of the Throne 1.59 The following may sit on the steps of the Throne: members of the House of Lords in receipt of a writ of summons, including those who have not taken their seat or the oath and those who have leave of absence; 1 The Crossbench Group is made up of members who are not affiliated to any political party. Members who belong to smaller parties may also sit on the Cross Benches. 26
members of the House of Lords who are disqualified from sitting or voting in the House as Members of the European Parliament or as holders of disqualifying judicial office; 1 hereditary peers who were formerly members of the House and who were excluded from the House by the House of Lords Act 1999; 2 the eldest child (which includes an adopted child) 3 of a member of the House (or the eldest son where the right was exercised before 27 March 2000); 4 peers of Ireland; diocesan bishops of the Church of England who do not yet have seats in the House of Lords; retired bishops who have had seats in the House of Lords; Privy Counsellors; Clerk of the Crown in Chancery; Black Rod and his Deputy; the Dean of Westminster. 1 House Committee 2nd Rpt 2008–09. 2 Offices 1st Rpt 1999–2000. 3 House Committee, decision by correspondence, November 2004. 4 Offices 4th Rpt 1999–2000. 27
- Page 1 and 2: HOUSE OF LORDS Companion to the Sta
- Page 3: PREFACE This is the 22nd edition of
- Page 6 and 7: Secret sittings ...................
- Page 8 and 9: Introduction and first reading.....
- Page 10 and 11: Procedure on consideration of Commo
- Page 12 and 13: Remedial orders ...................
- Page 14 and 15: ABBREVIATIONS Erskine May Erskine M
- Page 16 and 17: By the Act of Settlement 1701 1 “
- Page 18 and 19: elected among the 15) in the releva
- Page 20 and 21: no member of the House may act as s
- Page 22 and 23: Leave of absence 1.27 Members of th
- Page 24 and 25: announcement takes a standard form
- Page 26 and 27: emunerated directorships and other
- Page 30 and 31: 28 1. Throne 2. Cloth of Estate 3.
- Page 32 and 33: CHAPTER 2 THE CROWN AND PARLIAMENTA
- Page 34 and 35: 2.09 A government backbencher also
- Page 36 and 37: does not apply to a dissolution, wh
- Page 38 and 39: Messages to members of the Royal Fa
- Page 40 and 41: CHAPTER 3 SITTINGS AND DOCUMENTS OF
- Page 42 and 43: Adjournment 3.09 At the end of busi
- Page 44 and 45: Leave of the House 3.19 The leave o
- Page 46 and 47: House of Lords Business 3.27 House
- Page 48 and 49: oral questions, which may be tabled
- Page 50 and 51: (c) business expressly exempted fro
- Page 52 and 53: 3.43 Private bills are entered on t
- Page 54 and 55: e taken during the dinner break. On
- Page 56 and 57: the remaining business from that si
- Page 58 and 59: must submit a notification and expl
- Page 60 and 61: papers can be found in the Handbook
- Page 62 and 63: CHAPTER 4 CONDUCT IN THE HOUSE Self
- Page 64 and 65: Any advice or assistance given by t
- Page 66 and 67: Order of speaking 4.25 When two or
- Page 68 and 69: 4.33 There are reasons for these cu
- Page 70 and 71: eferred to by their ministerial tit
- Page 72 and 73: Law Officers of the Crown, Judges o
- Page 74 and 75: the original motion as amended. It
- Page 76 and 77: (c) Appellate proceedings, whether
members of the House of Lords who are disqualified from sitting<br />
or voting in the House as Members of the European <strong>Parliament</strong> or<br />
as holders of disqualifying judicial office; 1<br />
hereditary peers who were formerly members of the House and<br />
who were excluded from the House by the House of Lords Act<br />
1999; 2<br />
the eldest child (which includes an adopted child) 3 of a member of<br />
the House (or the eldest son where the right was exercised<br />
before 27 March 2000); 4<br />
peers of Ireland;<br />
diocesan bishops of the Church of England who do not yet have<br />
seats in the House of Lords;<br />
retired bishops who have had seats in the House of Lords;<br />
Privy Counsellors;<br />
Clerk of the Crown in Chancery;<br />
Black Rod and his Deputy;<br />
the Dean of Westminster.<br />
1 House Committee 2nd Rpt 2008–09.<br />
2 Offices 1st Rpt 1999–2000.<br />
3 House Committee, decision by correspondence, November 2004.<br />
4 Offices 4th Rpt 1999–2000.<br />
27
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