HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

CHAPTER 4
CONDUCT IN THE HOUSE
Self-regulation
4.01 The House is self-regulating: the Lord Speaker has no power to
rule on matters of order. In practice this means that the preservation of
order and the maintenance of the rules of debate are the responsibility of
the House itself, that is, of all the members who are present, and any
member may draw attention to breaches of order or failures to observe
customs.
4.02 The word “undesirable” is used in the House of Lords as the
equivalent of the expression “out of order” in the House of Commons. If
any member is in doubt about a point of procedure, the Clerk of the
Parliaments and other Clerks are available to give advice, and members of
the House are recommended to consult them. 1
Role of the Leader of the House, Whips and Lord Speaker
4.03 The Leader of the House is appointed by the Prime Minister, is a
member of the Cabinet, and is responsible for the conduct of
government business in the Lords. 2 Because the Lord Speaker has no
powers to rule on matters of procedure, the Leader also advises the
House on procedure and order, and has the responsibility of drawing
attention to violations or abuse. The Leader also expresses the sense of
the House on formal occasions, such as motions of thanks or
congratulation. However, like the Lord Speaker, the Leader is endowed
with no formal authority.
4.04 The Leader and the private office of the Government Chief Whip
are available to assist and advise all members of the House. Members
greatly assist the effective conduct of the House’s business if they give as
much notice as possible to the Leader and the Government Chief Whip’s
private office whenever they propose to raise any matter on which the
Leader’s guidance might be required.
1 Procedure 2nd Rpt 1981–82.
2 Procedure 2nd Rpt 1981–82, 1st Rpt 1987–88.
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