HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

Order of speaking
4.25 When two or more members rise to speak, the House
determines who is to speak. This may, if necessary, be decided upon a
motion that one of the members “be now heard”. It is customary for
speakers from different parties or parts of the House to take turns.
Speakers’ lists
4.26 For most debates a list of speakers is issued by the Government
Whips’ Office 1 and is available at 2 p.m. 2 from that Office, and also from
the Printed Paper Office, the Prince’s Chamber and Peers’ Lobby. This list
is drawn up after consultation through the usual channels. Members
wishing to speak should put their names on the speakers’ list at any time
before 12 noon on the day of the debate, or 6 p.m. on the previous day
if the House is sitting in the morning. Any member whose name is not on
the published list may still take part, by speaking “in the gap”, that is,
before the winding-up speeches. They should inform the Table of their
wish to do so, and have their name added in manuscript to the list. Any
such speaker is expected to be brief (not longer than 4 minutes). 3
Members are expected to remove their names from the list if they
become aware in advance that they are unlikely to be able to stay until
the end of a debate (see paragraph 4.32).
4.27 It is not in order for a member to speak after the mover of a
motion or an amendment has exercised their right of reply, except when
the House is in committee. 4 It is not in order for members to continue
the debate on a motion or a question for short debate after the
government’s reply has been given, save for questions to the minister
“before the minister sits down”. 5
4.28 When at the end of a debate the Question has been put, no
member may speak save on a point of order. 6
1 Procedure 2nd Rpt 1966–67, 2nd Rpt 1971–72.
2 Or before the sitting when the House sits in the morning.
3 Procedure 3rd Rpt 1995–96.
4 Procedure 1st Rpt 1978–79.
5 Procedure 1st Rpt 1977–78.
6 SO 29.
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