HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

eferred to by their ministerial titles. Additional descriptions such as
“Right Honourable”, “Honourable” and “Learned” are not used, except
when referring to ministerial or party colleagues in the House of
Commons as “Right Honourable” or “Honourable” friends.
Personal criticism of Members of the House of Commons
4.43 No Member of the House of Commons should be mentioned by
name, or otherwise identified, for the purpose of criticism of a personal,
rather than a political, nature. Public activities by Members of the House
of Commons outside their parliamentary duties may be referred to.
Criticism of Commons proceedings
4.44 Criticism of proceedings in the House of Commons or of
Commons Speaker’s rulings is out of order, but criticism may be made of
the institutional structure of Parliament or the role and function of the
House of Commons.
Maiden speeches 1
4.45 It is usual for a member making a maiden speech not to be
interrupted and to be congratulated by the next speaker only, on behalf
of the whole House, plus the front benches if they wish. 2 It is therefore
expected that a member making a maiden speech will do so in a debate
with a speakers’ list, so that the House may know that the conventional
courtesies apply. In return the maiden speaker is expected to be short
(less than 10 minutes) and uncontroversial. The maiden speaker should
not take advantage of the indulgence of the House to express views in
terms that would ordinarily provoke interruption.
4.46 Members of the House who have not yet made their maiden
speeches may not table oral questions or questions for short debate, but
may table questions for written answer.
Conduct in the House during maiden speeches
4.47 When a maiden speech is being made, and during the following
speaker’s congratulations, members of the House are expected to remain
1 Procedure 1st Rpt 1969–70.
2 Procedure 2nd Rpt 2006–07.
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