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HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

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2.09 A government backbencher also chosen by the Leader then<br />

seconds the motion for an Address. It is customary for the speeches of<br />

the mover and seconder to be uncontroversial. After the speech of the<br />

seconder the Leader of the Opposition moves the adjournment of the<br />

debate. On this motion he and the other party leaders congratulate the<br />

mover and seconder and comment generally on the Queen’s Speech.<br />

After the Leader of the House has responded, the debate on the<br />

Address is adjourned.<br />

2.10 Certain formal business is then taken. The Chairman and Principal<br />

Deputy Chairman of Committees are nominated on the motion of the<br />

Leader of the House. Formal entries in the Minutes of Proceedings<br />

record the laying before the House by the Clerk of the <strong>Parliament</strong>s of a<br />

list of members of the House, a list of hereditary peers who wish to stand<br />

for election as members of the House of Lords under Standing Order 10<br />

(Hereditary peers: by-elections), and the sessional order for preventing<br />

stoppages in the streets.<br />

2.11 The general debate on the Address is resumed on the next sitting<br />

day. The principal topics for debate (e.g. foreign affairs, home affairs,<br />

economic affairs, agriculture, transport) are taken on different days.<br />

Amendments, of which notice must be given, may be moved to the Address<br />

at any time in the debate, and are disposed of at the end of the day on<br />

which they are debated or at the end of the whole debate. If no amendment<br />

has been moved to the Address, the Lord Speaker declares the Question<br />

decided “nemine dissentiente”. The House then orders the Address to be<br />

presented to Her Majesty. This is usually done by the Lord Chamberlain.<br />

Prorogation<br />

2.12 The prorogation of <strong>Parliament</strong>, which brings a session to an end, is<br />

a prerogative act of the Crown. By current practice <strong>Parliament</strong> is<br />

prorogued by Commissioners acting in the Sovereign’s name. 1<br />

2.13 On the day appointed for prorogation, prayers are read and any<br />

necessary business is transacted. The procedure followed at prorogation,<br />

with or without Royal Assent, is given at appendix G (page 250).<br />

<strong>Parliament</strong> is always prorogued to a definite day. Prorogation for further<br />

1 <strong>Parliament</strong> was last prorogued by the monarch in person in 1854.<br />

32

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