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HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

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limited debates, any Commons statement repeated in the House is<br />

normally taken between the two debates. Only in exceptional<br />

circumstances are such debates interrupted for a statement.<br />

6.06 There is no limit on the number of ministerial statements that can<br />

be made in one day, but lengthy interruption of the business of the<br />

House is not desirable. Ministerial statements made in the Commons are<br />

repeated in the Lords if the usual channels so wish. 1 If the Lords are not<br />

sitting on a day on which a statement is made in the Commons, it is not<br />

the practice to repeat it when the Lords next sit, save in the case of an<br />

exceptionally important statement.<br />

Discussion on a statement<br />

6.07 Ministerial statements are made for the information of the House,<br />

and although brief comments and questions from all quarters of the<br />

House are allowed, statements should not be made the occasion for an<br />

immediate debate. 2 The time for the two Opposition front benches and<br />

the minister’s reply to them should be limited to 20 minutes; 3 ministers<br />

should not, however, cut short their replies, even if this means going<br />

beyond the 20-minute limit. 4 The period of questions and answers which<br />

then follows for backbench members should not exceed 20 minutes from<br />

the end of the minister’s initial reply to the Opposition spokesmen. 5 If a<br />

debate upon a statement is desired, a notice should be tabled for a later<br />

date.<br />

1 When considering whether to require repetition of a Statement made in the Commons on a<br />

Wednesday, the usual channels bear in mind the extra pressure on business created by the<br />

late start, and consider the additional options of (i) a Private Notice Question on the subject<br />

of the Statement and (ii) taking the Statement the next day (Procedure 2nd Rpt 2005–06).<br />

2 SO 35; often restated by the Procedure Committee, most recently in 1st Rpt 2002–03.<br />

3 Procedure 1st Rpt 1998–99.<br />

4 Procedure 1st Rpt 2000–01.<br />

5 Procedure 1st Rpt 1989-90; 1st Rpt 1994–95. On 26 January 2004, additional time was<br />

allowed for an intervention by the Lord Chief Justice (HL Deb. col. 12). On 10 June 2009, the<br />

Convenor of the Crossbench Peers was permitted to intervene during the time for the front<br />

benches, and the time allowed for backbenchers was extended to 40 minutes (HL Deb. col.<br />

638).<br />

91

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