Guide for Deputy Speakers and Deputy Chairmen

Contents

In case of interruptions in the Chamber, the following procedures should be used. This information is also available on the red and yellow cards by the Woolsack.

Emergency

The Minister or Whip at the despatch box will interrupt the business of the House and say – “My Lords, this is an emergency announcement. It is necessary to evacuate the Chamber. Please leave the Chamber as directed by the Doorkeepers.” The Lord Speaker or Deputy Chairman then says –“The House [or Committee] stands adjourned.  Please leave the Chamber as directed by the Doorkeepers.”

Illness in the Chamber etc.

If the business needs to be interrupted, the Minister or Whip at the despatch box will say – “My Lords, it may be appropriate to break for [X minutes].” The Lord Speaker or Deputy Chairman then says – “The House [or Committee] stands adjourned for [X minutes].”

The Lord Speaker is elected by the House. It is the Lord Speaker’s duty ordinarily to occupy the Woolsack, or the Chair when the House is in Committee. The Senior Deputy Speaker is the Lord Speaker’s designated deputy. Deputy Speakers, appointed by the Crown under the Great Seal, and Deputy Chairmen, appointed by the House, may take the place of the Lord Speaker. If none of these Lords is present the House may on motion appoint its own Speaker. Rotas are prepared on a weekly basis allocating duties to Deputies in the House or Grand Committee. The function of the Speaker or the Chairman is to put the Question on all motions which have been proposed, but they have no power to maintain order. Responsibility for maintaining order rests with the House or the Committee.

A brief is provided for the Lord Speaker on each day when the House sits and this sets out the expected course of business, and the main Questions which have to be put from the Woolsack. A copy is also provided for any Lord acting as Speaker. A separate brief is provided for the Chairman or Speaker to draw attention to points of difficulty which may arise during a stage of a bill, for example the pre-emption of one amendment by another. These briefs supply basic information and help for the Speaker and the Chairman, but assume a general knowledge of the procedure of the House and of the forms of words explained in this guide. The Clerks at the Table should be consulted on any unexpected business or unusual procedure. Further written guidance is available in the Companion to the Standing Orders and in the Short guide to practice and procedure.

Order in the House

The Speaker has no power to act in the House without the consent of the House. The Speaker’s function is to assist, and not to rule. The House does not recognise points of order. Any advice or assistance given by the Speaker is subject to the view of the House as a whole. The role of assisting the House at question time rests with the Leader of the House, not the Speaker. At other times of day the Lord on the Woolsack or in the Chair may on occasion assist the House by reminding members of the relevant parts of the Companion. Such assistance is limited to procedural advice, for example the correct procedure at Report stage, the handling of grouped amendments, and the procedure to be followed in the case of amendments to amendments. In most cases advice about keeping order in the House or committee is given by the Government Front Bench, on advice from the Clerk at the Table. The Government Chief Whip advises the House on speaking times in debates. Reinforcing such time limits is handled by the front benches rather than the Speaker, and any member can draw such advice to the attention of the House. Timed debates are brought to an end (if necessary) by the Speaker on an indication from the Table. Interventions calling attention to the failure of an individual member to comply with the rules may come from the front benches or other members. This would be the case, for example, when a member was seeking to make a speech on report after the Minister had spoken, or when arguments deployed in committee were repeated at length on report. Such interventions would not normally come from the Speaker. The Speaker observes the same formalities as any other member of the House. The Speaker addresses the House as a whole, and not an individual member, and does not intervene when a member is on their feet. 

Beginning of a sitting

If the Lord Speaker is absent at the beginning of a sitting of the House, the Senior Deputy Speaker or failing them a Deputy Speaker takes the Lord Speaker’s place on the Woolsack. In this event, the Lord Speaker’s procession with the mace is curtailed. The Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms, alone, takes the mace by way of the Library corridor to the Peers’ Lobby where the Deputy Speaker waits at the Brass Gates and follows the mace into the Chamber from below the Bar on the Temporal side. On reaching the Woolsack, the Deputy Speaker faces the House and bows, turns to the Bishop and bows, then turns to face the Throne and, after the psalm has been read, kneels for prayers. When prayers are over the Deputy Speaker rises, bows to the Bishop, then to the House and sits on the Woolsack. If no Bishop or other ordained minister of the Church of England is present the Lord Speaker or Deputy Speaker reads prayers. When the House sits after an “Adjournment during pleasure”, the mace is already on the Woolsack. The Speaker enters the House from the Prince’s Chamber on the Spiritual side, goes to the Woolsack, bows to the House and sits down.

Change of Speaker or Chairman during sitting

During the course of business one Speaker may succeed another on the Woolsack. This is done without interruption of business. The Lord who is to replace the Speaker waits on the Archbishops’ bench. At the agreed time the two Lords stand on either side of the Woolsack and bow to each other (the Lord who is taking over stands on the Spiritual side of the House, the one being replaced on the Temporal side); the Lord who has been on the Woolsack then withdraws and the Lord replacing them sits down. There is no formality when one Chairman succeeds another at the Table.

Quorum

The quorum of the House (or of a Grand Committee) is three, including the Lord Speaker or Deputy. There is, however, a quorum of 30 for divisions on a bill or on any Question for the approval or disapproval of subordinate legislation. The procedure to be followed if fewer than 30 Lords have voted in such divisions is set out in the Appendix.

Voting on the Woolsack and in the Chair

The Lord Speaker and Senior Deputy Speaker are expected to refrain from political activity, including from voting in the House. If, however, one of the Deputies is on the Woolsack or in the Chair and wishes to vote during a division then the vote is taken by the Clerk.

Adjournment of the House

At the end of business a member of the Government moves “That the House do now adjourn”. It is customary for the Speaker not to put the full Question on this motion unless informed that any Lord wishes to speak on the adjournment. Instead the Speaker repeats the words – “That the House do now adjourn” and does not collect the voices. The Speaker then turns to the Temporal side, bows to the mace and follows it out of the House by the Temporal side into the Peers’ Lobby where they leave the procession after bowing to the mace in the centre of the Lobby.

Adjournment during pleasure

When the House is to be adjourned during pleasure the motion is moved from the Government Front Bench. In some cases the motion may include the time at which the House will resume, but on other occasions the time is not mentioned. The Speaker then puts the Question in full, including the time if it has been specified in the motion –

    “The Question is that the House do now adjourn during pleasure until 8 o’clock [or as the case may be].”

or

    “The Question is that the House do now adjourn during pleasure.”

The Speaker collects the voices and when the Question is agreed to leaves the House alone, going by the Spiritual side to the Prince’s Chamber.

Motions

Every motion, after it has been moved, must be proposed in the form of a Question from the Woolsack (or the Chair) before debate takes place upon it. When a motion is moved, the Speaker or Chairman rises at the end of the mover’s speech and puts the Question on the motion for the first time. If no one rises to speak the Speaker goes on immediately to “collect the voices” and the Question is decided. If there is a debate, the Speaker does not collect the voices at this point but waits until the end of the debate when they put the Question for the second time and collect the voices, and the Question is decided. The Question takes various forms, for example –

    “The Question is that this motion be agreed to.”

    “The Question is that this bill be now read a first [second][third] time.”

    “The Question is that this Report be now received.”

    “The Question is that the House do now resolve itself into a Committee upon the bill.”

The form of Question follows the wording of the motion, though in the case of complex motions it may be appropriate for the Question to refer to the words “set out on the Order Paper/Marshalled List”. Such a case would be explained in the Lord Speaker’s Brief. The essential requirement is that the Question should be put in a form which leaves the House in no doubt about what it is being asked to decide.

Absence of mover

If a Lord in whose name a motion or question stands on the Order Paper cannot be present, they may authorise another Lord to move or ask it on their behalf. This Lord should state that they are doing so with the authority of the absent Lord. If authority has not been given, any Lord who wishes to move the motion or ask the question must ask the House for leave, which must be unanimous.

Amendments to motions

The principle which underlies the structure of a debate during which amendments (and possibly amendments to amendments) are proposed to a motion is that the discussion of each amendment is a separate debate, which must be concluded before the House disposes of the original motion. Similarly, an amendment to an amendment must be disposed of before the original amendment is disposed of. When an amendment to a motion is moved, the Question on the amendment is, for the sake of clarity, put as follows – “The Question is that the amendment in the name of xxx be agreed to.” When the debate on the amendment has finished and the Question is put for the second time and decided, and no further amendment to the motion has been tabled, the House reverts to the original motion (either amended or unamended). If there are several amendments tabled to the same motion, they are called in turn in the order in which they relate to the text, subject to the rules on pre-emption. In practice the motion and any amendments are usually debated together on the first amendment, subsequent amendments are called and disposed of formally and the Question on the original motion is put for the second time as soon as the last amendment to it has been disposed of. If no amendment is agreed to, the original Question should be put in its original form. If any amendment has been agreed to, the Question on the original motion should be put as follows – “The Question is that original motion, as amended, be agreed to.”

Amendments to bills

The Question on amendments to bills is put in a slightly different form.

Collecting the voices

At the end of the debate on a motion or an amendment, the Speaker or Chairman, having put the Question to the House or Committee for the second time, says – “As many as are of that opinion will say “Content”; the contrary “Not-content”.” If there is a response from only one side, the Speaker says – “The Contents [Not-contents] have it” and the Question is resolved in the affirmative or negative accordingly. If there is a response from both sides, but the Speaker thinks one side is more numerous than the other, they say – “I think the Contents [Not-contents] have it.” If this expression of opinion is not challenged the Speaker says – “The Contents [Not-contents] have it” and the Question is decided accordingly. The Speaker or Chairman may repeat this expression of opinion until satisfied that they cannot avoid calling a division or until one side ceases to challenge (only one voice needs to reply from each side to force a division).

Divisions

When the Speaker or Chairman has decided that a division must be called, they say – “Clear the Bar.” This is the signal for the division bells to be rung throughout the House. At the end of three minutes the Clerk rises and bows and the Speaker or Chairman rises and puts the Question as before – “The Question is that … As many as are of that opinion will say “Content”; the contrary “Not-content”.” If both sides again reply the Speaker says – “The Contents will go to the right by the Throne; the Not-contents to the left by the Bar.” But if only one side replies, the Speaker says – “The Contents [Not-contents] have it” no division takes place, and the Question is resolved accordingly. In addition, if the proper number of Tellers is not appointed, a division cannot take place and the Speaker or Chairman will be advised by the Clerk at the Table on the procedure which they should follow. After a further five minutes, the Clerk again rises and bows and the Speaker or Chairman says – “The Question is that … [as appropriate]”. The Speaker does not add the final words “As many as are of that opinion …” because they are merely informing the House or Committee of the Question before it. The doors of the Chamber are then locked, and only those in the Chamber or the lobbies at that time may continue to vote. When all have voted, one of the Tellers will hand the Speaker or Chairman the result and they rise and say –

    “There have voted –
    Contents … Not-contents …
    so the Contents [Not-contents] have it.”

If there is no quorum, or an equality of votes, the Speaker or Chairman will be advised by the Clerk at the Table on the procedure which they should follow. The Speaker or Chairman has discretion to authorise an extension of the time required for a division under special circumstances, for example if the division bells fail to ring.

Withdrawal of motions or amendments

At the end of a debate the mover of a motion or amendment may ask the leave of the House or Committee to withdraw their motion or amendment. If they do, the Speaker or Chairman rises and says – “Is it your Lordships’ pleasure that this motion [amendment] be withdrawn?” If there is no dissenting voice the Speaker adds – “Motion [amendment] by leave withdrawn.” The leave of the House to withdraw must be unanimous; if there is any dissenting voice, the Speaker must put the Question, and say – “The Question is that this motion [amendment] be agreed to. As many as are of that opinion …”, The procedure for conducting a division set out above then applies.

The Chairman takes the Chair at the Table and reads out the name of the bill. They then call each clause in turn by its number; if no amendment is moved, the Question is put on each clause, thus – “That clause … stand part of the bill.” If there are amendments to any clause, the Chairman calls them in sequence by number, thus – “Amendment 1 – Lord A.” In the absence of Lord A, any other Lord may move the amendment, even if they have not added their name to it. When Lord A has spoken to the amendment the Chairman says – “Amendment proposed, page X, line Y, leave out “…” and insert the words as printed” [or the Chairman reads out the words if they are not too many]. The debate on the amendment follows, and at the end of the debate if the member who has moved the amendment presses it, the Chairman puts the Question – “That this amendment be agreed to.” The Chairman then collects the voices and, if necessary, calls a division. If after the debate the Lord asks leave to withdraw the amendment, the Chairman says – “Is it your Lordships’ pleasure that this amendment be withdrawn? – amendment, by leave, withdrawn.” Leave to withdraw must be unanimous. If there is a single dissenting voice, the Chairman must put the Question – “That this amendment be agreed to.”

Clause/Schedule stand part

By long-established practice, each clause and Schedule has to be moved affirmatively into the bill in Committee. As soon as the amendments to each clause have been disposed of, the Chairman puts the Question – “That clause X [as amended] stand part of the bill.” On this Question a general debate on the clause may take place and it is open to any Lord who wishes to propose the omission of the clause to speak. The Chairman’s brief indicates when it is necessary to stand part clauses to which no amendments have been tabled, but does not highlight the need to stand part clauses to which amendments have been tabled. Determining this is one of the points for which the Chairman should prepare in advance. The clauses of the bill are proceeded with in sequence unless there is an Instruction from the House. This is printed at the top of the marshalled list, and is usually an Instruction that the Schedules be considered immediately after the clauses to which they relate. The Schedules to the bill are treated in the same way as the clauses but the Question is put on each thus – “That this be the Schedule to the bill” or “That Schedule 1 [as amended] be the first Schedule to the bill. As many as are of that opinion …” When a clause or Schedule has been disposed of the Committee cannot consider it again, unless a motion is subsequently passed to recommit it. When there are consecutive clauses or Schedules to which no amendment has been set down, the Chairman does not call the clauses or Schedules singly but puts the Question on all of them, or on groups of them, together. The Chairman should pause before completing the Question in case a member, who has not given notice of their intention to do so, wishes to speak.

Leaving out clauses/Schedules

Notice to leave out a clause or Schedule is not treated as an amendment because it is merely an indication that a Lord wishes to oppose the Question that the clause or Schedule stand part of the bill. Such notice appears in the Marshalled List without a number and in italics in the form –

    Lord A gives notice of his intention to oppose the Question that clause X stand part of the bill.

or

    The above-named Lords give notice of their intention to oppose the Question that clause X stand part of the bill.

When this notice is reached, the Chairman should say – “The Question is that clause X stand part of the bill – Lord A.” The debate takes place on the Question “That the clause stand part”. The Chairman does not repeat the question after Lord A has spoken. When the Question is put again at the end of the debate, those who wish to leave out the clause say “Not-content” and those who wish the clause to remain say “Content”. Schedules are dealt with similarly.

Insertion of substitution of a new clause or Schedule

Where a new clause or Schedule is tabled for inclusion in the bill (either in substitution for an existing clause or Schedule or separately) it is treated as an ordinary amendment, and the question on it is accordingly – “That this amendment be agreed to.” If the amendment is agreed to it is not then necessary to stand the new clause or Schedule part of the bill.

Transposition of clause or Schedule

The Question on an amendment to transpose a clause or Schedule (or part of a clause or Schedule) is put after the Question that the clause or Schedule stand part of the bill. Therefore it is not necessary for the transposed clause or Schedule to be stood part of the bill again in the place to which it is transposed.

Postponement of clauses or Schedules

The Committee may, on motion of which notice is not essential, postpone clauses or Schedules or groups of clauses or Schedules which are then taken up later on, but this course may not be adopted if an amendment has already been made to the clause or group concerned.

Grouped amendments

For the purposes of debate it is often convenient for related amendments on the same subject to be discussed together, even if the amendments are not consecutive nor all in the name of the same member. The process of identifying which amendments should be grouped is conducted by agreement between the members concerned and the Government Whips’ Office, which produces a list of the groupings on the day of debate. Debate usually takes place on only the first of the related amendments, even though it may be a minor or “paving” amendment. When the first amendment in the group has been disposed of, it is usual for the remaining amendments in the group not to be further debated when they are called.  The amendments may be moved formally, either singly or en bloc. When an amendment on which later amendments are consequential has been disagreed to or withdrawn, the later amendments are normally not moved. However, notwithstanding any grouping, each amendment may be moved (if desired) and disposed of separately at its place in the marshalled list, and it is open to any Lord to speak to any amendment at the point when the Question is put on it.

En bloc amendments

The Question should be put on amendments en bloc only where a decision in principle has already been made by the House or Committee earlier in the bill. The Chairman should not allow a Lord to move a new group of amendments en bloc (the only exception to this rule is when Commons amendments are being considered). The first amendment in the group must first be debated and decided. Thereafter some or all of the later amendments may, by unanimous leave of the House, be moved en bloc, provided that they are consecutive in the marshalled list and, when the House is in Committee, confined to a single clause or Schedule (for procedure at Report stage and Third Reading). If leave is given, a single Question is put (“the Question is that amendments 25 to 30 be agreed to en bloc. As many…”) and decided without further debate; if leave is refused, the amendments must be called and disposed of separately to the extent desired. In Committee, amendments to insert new clauses may be moved en bloc, provided they are not in substitution for an existing clause. Amendments may not be withdrawn en bloc.

Manuscript amendments

Amendments may be moved in Committee even if they have not been previously published. These are commonly known as “manuscript amendments”. When a manuscript amendment is moved, its text should (unless the Committee otherwise directs) be read out to the Committee, not only by the mover but also by the Chairman when putting the Question. If such an amendment has not been handed to the Chairman, they should ask for a copy in order to put the Question correctly.

Amendments to amendments

Amendments to proposed amendments are taken after the original amendment has been moved and the Question put on it for the first time. Where more than one amendment to an amendment is tabled they are taken in the order in which they relate to the text of the original amendment. They must each be called in turn, subject to the rules on pre-emption, even if they have been debated with the first amendment in the group. When such amendments to the amendment have been disposed of, the original amendment (or the original amendment as amended) is finally disposed of. If an amendment to which amendments have been tabled is grouped with an earlier amendment, and is subsequently moved at its place in the Marshalled List, any amendments to that amendment must be called and disposed of (normally formally) before the Question on the amendment is finally decided.

Alternative amendments

Where there is more than one amendment to the same place in a bill, each may be called. If any such amendment is agreed to, the subsequent amendments may be called in an amended form by reference to it. The amendments are tabled as follows –

Amendment No.
1.  Page 1, line 1, leave out “four” and insert “five”
2.  Page 1, line 1, leave out “four” and insert “six”
3.  Page 1, line 1, leave out “four” and insert “seven”

If amendment 1 is carried, amendment 2 is called thus – “Amendment proposed, Page 1, line 1, leave out “five” and insert “six”.” Similarly, if amendment 2 is carried, amendment 3 is called thus – “Amendment proposed, Page 1, line 1, leave out “six” and insert “seven”.”

Pre-emption

If an amendment has been pre-empted by one previously agreed to by the House, e.g. because the text proposed to be amended has been left out of the bill, the amendment will not be called. The Chairman alerts the House to this possibility, normally when putting the text of the pre-empting amendment after it has been moved, but sometimes (e.g. when the amendment is one which is likely to be divided on) when calling the pre-empting amendment.

End of committee stage

When the Committee have gone through the clauses and Schedules, amendments may be moved to the Preamble (if there is one) and Title of the bill. The Chairman concludes the committee stage by putting the Question –“That this [as amended] be the Title of the Bill.” When consideration of the bill in Committee has been concluded, the Chairman says – “My Lords, that concludes the Committee’s proceedings. The House will now resume.” The Chairman then leaves the Chair and goes to the Woolsack and says –

    “My Lords, the Committee of the whole House to which the … Bill was committed has gone through the same and 
    have directed me to report it to your Lordships with amendments [with an amendment] [without amendment].”

If no amendment has been made, the Lord in charge of the bill may then (though they need not) move – “That this Report be now received” and the Question is put accordingly.

The following shortened procedures may be used in cases where no amendment has been set down and no Lord has given notice that they wish to move an amendment or speak to a clause or Schedule.

Committee discharged

The Lord in charge of the bill, having given notice on the Order Paper, may move the discharge of the order of commitment (or re-commitment). If no Lord objects, the question is put from the Woolsack and if agreed to the House proceeds to the next business on the Order Paper. If any Lord objects, the Lord in charge of the bill moves that the House do now resolve itself into a Committee in the normal way.

Report forthwith without amendment

If the Lord in charge of the bill has not given notice for the discharge of the order of commitment, the House must go into Committee. The Chairman may then ask the permission of the Committee to report the bill without amendment forthwith instead of going through the bill in the usual way. The Chairman says –

    “[Short title of bill]. My Lords, I understand that no amendments have been set down to the bill and that no
    noble Lord has indicated a wish to speak. With the agreement of the Committee, I will report the bill to the House
    without amendment.”

The Chairman should look round the Chamber to see whether any Lord wishes to speak. If not, they say – “The House will now resume” and they return to the Woolsack and report the bill without amendment. If a member indicates that they do want to speak, the Chairman puts the clauses and Schedules in the usual way (in groups, if convenient). As soon as the House is resumed, the opportunity has passed for any Lord to move an amendment or to speak to a clause or Schedule.

Moving of Consolidation bills en bloc

The Lord in charge may, if they so wish, move stages of linked Consolidation bills en bloc in cases where no amendments have been tabled. Notice should be given by means of an italic note on the Order Paper, and any Lord has the right to propose that a particular bill should be moved separately. If a committee stage on re-commitment is required, the House is able to resolve itself into a Committee on more than one linked consolidation bill, and the Committee only reports when all such bills have been considered. This procedure is applied by a business of the House motion.

The Chairman’s function in a Grand Committee is exactly the same as in the House. The procedure described above for Committee of the whole House is followed in a Grand Committee with the following exceptions.

Divisions

It is not possible for a division to take place in a Grand Committee. Therefore decisions of the Committee to amend the bill can only be made by unanimity. If there is objection to the Question that an amendment be agreed to and the amendment is not withdrawn, the Chairman must declare the amendment negatived. Provided that there is at least a single voice in favour the Chairman must declare clauses or Schedules stood part, even if the clause or Schedule is objected to.

Adjournment for a division in the House

If there is a division in the House while the Grand Committee is sitting, the Chairman should immediately interrupt proceedings and say – “My Lords, there is a division in the House. The Committee will adjourn for 10 minutes.”

Adjournment during pleasure

It may be for the convenience of members that the Grand Committee adjourn for a short time during its proceedings (e.g. for a statement in the House). Normally no question is put and the Chairman simply says – “My Lords, the Committee will adjourn for … minutes.” If, exceptionally, a proposal to adjourn were to give rise to debate, the Chairman would put the Question as follows – “The Question is that the Grand Committee do now adjourn during pleasure until X o’clock. As many as are of that opinion …”

Resumption of business

Following an adjournment during pleasure, or for a division in the House, the proceedings simply continue without further formality from the point at which they were broken off.

Completion of proceedings for the day

When the last amendment for the day has been disposed of, a Whip will move that the Committee adjourns. The Chairman says – “The Committee stands adjourned.” No Question is put.

Completion of proceedings on the bill

When the last amendment has been disposed of the Chairman puts the Questions on the Preamble (if there is one) and Title in the usual way, and then says – “My Lords, that concludes the Committee’s proceedings on the bill.”

A further opportunity to move amendments to a bill arises on Report stage. The Lord in charge of the bill moves and the Question is put – “That this Report be now received.” When this has been agreed to, the Speaker calls each amendment in the order in which it appears on the marshalled list. “Amendment 1 – Lord A.” When Lord A has spoken to the amendment the Speaker says – “Amendment proposed, page 1, line 1, leave out … and insert the words as printed” [or the words to be inserted are read out if not too many]. The amendment is then considered and disposed of in the same manner as in Committee. Though generally speaking amendments are dealt with in the same way on Report as in Committee, there are four important differences –

1.  No Lord may speak more than once to the same question unless they are the mover of an amendment replying
     to the debate on it or the Minister (by leave);
2.  Only the mover of an amendment should speak after the Minister, except for short questions for elucidation or 
     where a Minister wishes to speak early to assist the House;
3.  The House is only considering the amendments before it, not the whole bill, so the existing clauses and
     Schedules are not again stood part of the bill;
4.  The moving of consecutive amendments en bloc is (because of (3) above) not confined to groups within a clause
     or Schedule. Any consecutive amendments may with the unanimous leave of the House be moved en bloc,
     subject to the need for a decision in principle to have already been taken.

When the last amendment has been disposed of, the Report stage ends without any further Question and the House proceeds to the next business.

The last opportunity to move amendments to a bill is on Third Reading. The Lord in charge of the bill moves and the Question is put – “That this bill be now read a Third Time.” When this has been agreed to, the Speaker calls each amendment in the order in which it appears on the marshalled list and it is disposed of in the same way as on other stages. The rules which apply are broadly similar to those on Report except that manuscript amendments may not be tabled. After the Third Reading of Lords bills, when all the textual amendments have been disposed of, the Lord in charge of the bill may, if necessary, move a privilege amendment, in the following form – “That the privilege amendment be agreed to.” If so, the Speaker should put the Question thus – “The Question is that the privilege amendment be agreed to.” The standard text of the privilege amendment is as follows –

    “( ) Nothing in this Act shall impose any charge on the people or on public funds or vary the amount
    or incidence of or otherwise alter any such charge in any manner, or affect the assessment, levying,
    administration or application of any money raised by any such charge.”

The purpose of the privilege amendment is simply to avoid infringing the Commons financial privilege. The text of the amendment is not read out to the House. After Third Reading, when the amendments and any privilege amendment have been disposed of, the Lord in charge of the bill moves and the Question is put – “That this bill do now pass.” This Question may be opposed, and amendments tabled to it, but there is normally no substantive debate so any remarks should be brief.

Notice is normally given on the Order Paper of consideration of Commons amendments to a bill, though in certain circumstances consideration may be moved forthwith without notice. A detailed procedural brief is always provided for consideration of Commons amendments and other “ping-pong” stages. When the Clerk calls on the business, the Lord in charge of the bill moves – “That the Commons amendments be now considered [be considered forthwith].” As soon as the motion for consideration has been agreed to the Speaker calls – “Amendment 1 – Lord A.” The Lord in charge of the bill may move that the House do agree with the Commons amendments singly or en bloc. Blocs must consist of consecutive amendments in the order in which they appear on the paper, to which no amendments or notice of opposition have been tabled. If leave to move amendments en bloc is refused the Question must be put separately on each amendment to the extent desired. At the end of the mover’s speech on amendment 1 the Speaker puts the question – “That this House do agree with the Commons in their amendment 1 [amendments 1–36 en bloc].” If it is desired to move any subsequent amendments en bloc the mover must ask leave to do this when the first amendment of the group is called and the Question is put accordingly. Where there is an amendment tabled to the Commons amendment, after the Question on the Commons amendment has been put for the first time the Speaker immediately calls the member in whose name the amendment stands – “Amendment 1A – Lord B.” They move and the Question is put – “That amendment 1A as an amendment to Commons amendment 1 be agreed to.” When the amendment to the Commons amendment has been disposed of the Question is then finally put – “That this House do agree with the Commons in their amendment 1 [as amended].”

Disagreement

Where a member seeks to disagree with the Commons amendment, or to propose an amendment in lieu, the amendment is framed as an amendment to the motion of the Lord in charge of the bill that the Commons amendment be agreed to. Accordingly the Speaker calls first the Lord in charge, who moves, and the Question is then put – “That this House do agree with the Commons in their amendment .” The Speaker then immediately calls the member in whose name the amendment stands – “Amendment 1A – Lord B.” He moves and the Question is put –

    “The original Question was that this House do agree with the Commons in their amendment 1; since when
    amendment 1A has been moved to leave out “agree” and to insert “disagree” [or to leave out the words after
    “that” and to insert “this House do disagree with the Commons in their amendment 1 but do propose amendment
    1B in lieu”]. The Question, therefore, is that amendment 1A be agreed to.”

If the motion is agreed to, no further question is put with respect to the Commons amendment. If the motion is withdrawn or disagreed to, the Speaker puts the Question on the original motion – “That this House do agree with the Commons in their amendment 1.” Where the Lord in charge wishes to disagree to a Commons amendment or propose an amendment in lieu, they so move when first called and the Speaker puts the Question – “That this House do disagree with the Commons in their amendment 1 [but do propose amendment 1A in lieu].” Subject to these points the rules of debate are the same as for Report stage.

If the Commons disagree to amendments proposed by the Lords, the bill is returned from the Commons with reasons for the disagreement, or amendments to or in lieu of the Lords amendments.  When the bill is considered the Lord in charge of the bill moves and the Question is put – “That the Commons reason(s) [and amendment(s)] be now considered [be considered forthwith]. The House agreed in March 2005 to simplify the proceedings at the later “ping-pong” stages. Each motion to be moved by the Lord in charge is printed on the Marshalled List and identified with a single letter. Any amendments to these motions are identified as A1, A2, etc. The individual motions may cover one or more Commons reasons/amendments, and those amendments will be printed together on the marshalled list. When the preliminary motion has been disposed of, the Speaker calls – “Motion A – Lord B.” The Lord in charge of the bill then moves and the Question is put – “That Motion A be agreed to.” If there is continuing disagreement, notice will have been given as amendment A1; the Speaker then calls the member in whose name amendment A1 stands to move their motion. The Question is then put – “The original Question was that Motion A be agreed to; since when amendment A1 has been moved as an amendment to Motion A. The Question is, therefore, that amendment A1 be agreed to.” If amendment A1 is agreed to, no further Question is put. If the amendment is withdrawn or disagreed to, the Speaker puts the original Question – “That Motion A be agreed to.”

Royal Assent to bills is generally notified to the House by the Speaker, either at the beginning of business or at a convenient point between items of business, or at the end of business. On receiving a nod at the appropriate moment from the Clerk, the Speaker rises and notifies the Royal Assent with these words –

    “My Lords, I have to notify the House, in accordance with the Royal Assent Act 1967, that the Queen has
    signified her Royal Assent to the following Acts [and Measures]”.

and then reads out the short titles from the list in the Lord Speaker’s Brief.

If the time limit expires during a debate on a take-note motion, the Clerk at the Table will rise and bow. The Speaker then says –

    My Lords, the time allotted for this debate has now elapsed and I must put the question. The question is that
    this motion be agreed to. As many as are of that opinion …”

If the time limit expires when debate on a substantive motion is continuing the Speaker says – “My Lords, the time allotted for this debate has now elapsed. Does the noble Lord/Baroness wish to withdraw his/her motion?” If the answer is in the affirmative, the Speaker says – “Is it your Lordships’ pleasure that the motion be withdrawn?” – and, in the absence of a dissentient voice – “Motion by leave withdrawn.” If there is objection to withdrawal or the mover refuses to withdraw the motion, the Speaker says –“The Question is that this motion be agreed to. As many as are of that opinion …”

Interruption for a statement

When the House is not in Committee, the business is broken for a statement informally and the business thus interrupted is not called when the proceedings on the statement conclude. This applies whether the interruption occurs during the course of a debate on a motion, or between amendments at Report Stage or Third Reading. If the business interrupted is the Report or Third Reading of a bill, the Speaker resumes the business by calling on the next amendment. In any other case it is for the next speaker on the list to rise and make their speech. Different procedures apply to interruptions of a Committee stage (see below).

Interruption for dinner or lunch adjournment

If business (usually the stage of a bill) is to be broken for dinner or lunch, a Whip will move that the business be adjourned. It is usual at this point for an indication to be given that the main business will not be resumed before a certain time. Accordingly the Whip usually proposes that the business be resumed “not before X o’clock”. The Question is then put that the business be adjourned. If there is no lunch or dinner business, the Question is then put that the House do now adjourn during pleasure until the time proposed. Similarly, if the dinner or lunch business concludes before that time, a Whip moves and the Question is put that the House do adjourn during pleasure until X o’clock. When an item of business has been broken off for an adjournment, the resumed business is called by the Clerk as if it were on the Order Paper, whether or not business has been taken during the adjournment.

Interruption of Committee stage for other business

If it is wished to interrupt a Committee stage to take other business (e.g. a statement or dinner break business), a member of the Government moves and the Chairman puts the Question – “That the House be resumed.” When this motion is agreed to the Chairman moves immediately to the Woolsack. When the other business has been completed, the Lord in charge of the bill moves and the Speaker puts the Question – “That the House do now again resolve itself into a Committee on the bill.”

Interruption of Committee stage for dinner or lunch (no other business)

If it is wished to interrupt a Committee stage for dinner or lunch during which no other business is to be taken, a member of the Government will merely state that it may be convenient for the Committee to break at that point and resume again at a stated time. In the absence of objection no Question is put but the Chairman says – “The Committee stands adjourned till X o’clock.” The Chairman then leaves the Chair.  At the stated time following the adjournment, the Chairman goes straight to the Table and the Committee stage is immediately resumed from the point reached before the interruption. In the unlikely event of this procedure being objected to it is necessary either to continue the Committee stage or for a motion to be moved and the Question put – “That the House be resumed.” If the resumption of the House is agreed to, the adjournment may be moved in the usual way after the House is resumed.  After the adjournment the Speaker goes to the Woolsack and the bill is called on as if at a new sitting.

Adjournment of business to another day

1. Committee stage
    If the Committee Stage is not completed at one sitting, the Lord in charge of the bill or another member of the 
    Government moves and the Question is put – “That the House be resumed.” Once the motion is agreed to the 
    Chairman returns to the Woolsack.
2. Report or Third Reading
    The Lord in charge moves and the Question is put – “That further consideration on Report [proceedings after 
    Third Reading] be now adjourned.”
3. Second Reading or other debate
    A Whip moves and the Question is put – “That this debate be now adjourned till [tomorrow].”

Postponement of business

Business may be postponed without notice, with the unanimous leave of the House. The business to be postponed has to be called by the Clerk and the Lord who intends to move the postponement should make clear the right of any Lord to object to the motion. Such objection would prevent the motion for postponement from being moved. So only if there is no objection does the Speaker put the Question.

The Chairman’s function in a Grand Committee is exactly the same as that of the Speaker in the House: to put the Question on all motions which have been proposed. The Chairman may assist the Committee by reminding members of the relevant parts of the Companion. Such assistance is limited to procedural advice. Procedure in Grand Committee on motions to consider Statutory Instruments (SIs), other motions and Questions for Short Debate is essentially the same as in the House, except that no divisions can take place. The effect of this is that is that if any motion is opposed on the voices, and opposition persists, the Chairman must declare the motion negatived. In practice such opposition is likely to be rare, since the motions “to consider” and “take note” have no procedural force and there is no utility in opposing them. It is also worth noting that, as in the Chamber, when SIs, motions or Questions for Short Debate are taken in a Grand Committee members may not (with the usual exceptions) speak more than once.

Statutory Instruments

Statutory Instruments considered in Grand Committee are debated on the motion, “That the Grand Committee do consider the A and B Order 20…”. The Grand Committee therefore only considers SIs; the motion to approve (or annul) is moved subsequently in the Chamber in the usual way. At the start of business the Clerk will call the name of the first SI, the Lord in charge moves and the Question is put – “That the Grand Committee do consider the A and B Order 20...” The debate follows and at the end the Lord in charge has a right of reply. The Chairman finally says – “The Question is that this motion be agreed to. As many as are of that opinion …” If no debate arises on a motion, whether moved formally or not, the Question is put – “That the Grand Committee do consider the A and B Order 20... As many as are of that opinion …” Where two or more SIs are debated together in Grand Committee, they may be taken en bloc provided the appropriate notice has been given.  The Chairman puts the question –“That the Grand Committee do consider the [two] [Orders] standing in the name of Lord X en bloc.”

Motions

The Clerk calls the name of the member in whose name the motion stands. Once the motion has been moved, the Question is put – “That this motion be agreed to.” The debate follows and at the end the mover has a right of reply. The Chairman finally says – “The Question is that this motion be agreed to. As many as are of that opinion …”

Questions for Short Debate

The Clerk calls the name of the member on the order paper. As in the Chamber, there is no question for the Chairman to put.

Conclusion of proceedings

Once all the business has been completed, the Chairman says – “My Lords, that completes the business before the Grand Committee this afternoon. The Committee stands adjourned.” There is nothing further to say.

Adjournment for a division in the House

If there is a division in the House while the Grand Committee is sitting, the Chairman should immediately interrupt proceedings and say – “My Lords, there is a division in the House. The Committee will adjourn for 10 minutes.”

Adjournment during pleasure

It may be for the convenience of members that the Grand Committee adjourn for a short time during its proceedings (e.g. for a statement in the House) or between items of business. Normally no question is put and the Chairman simply says – “My Lords, the Committee will adjourn for … minutes [or until X o'clock].” If, exceptionally, it was clear that a proposal to adjourn would give rise to debate, the Chairman would put the Question at the beginning of the debate as follows – “The Question is that the Grand Committee do now adjourn during pleasure until X o’clock.” But the Chairman should make it clear, either at the beginning of the debate, or at a later stage, according to the circumstances, that the House has agreed that there are to be no divisions in Grand Committee, and that therefore the motion could be debated, but would have to be agreed to unanimously, withdrawn or, in the event that the issue was pressed, negatived.

Resumption of business

Following an adjournment during pleasure, or for a division in the House, the proceedings simply continue without further formality from the point at which they were broken off.

If in a speech a Lord is thought to be seriously transgressing the accepted practice of the House, it is open to another Lord to move “that the noble Lord be no longer heard”. This motion, however, is very rare; it is debatable and seldom needs to be decided on Question since Lords generally conform to the sense of the House as soon as this becomes clear. If however the Lord concerned persists in speaking, and there remains opposition to them doing so, the Question is put in the following form – “The Question is that the noble Lord, Lord A, be no longer heard.” The effect of agreeing to this motion is to prohibit the Lord from speaking further on the motion or Question before the House, but not on any subsequent motion or Question.

The Closure (that is, the motion “that the Question be now put”) is a procedure deliberately to be used extremely sparingly. When a Lord seeks to move the Closure the Speaker or Chairman shall bring the attention of the House to its exceptional nature and give the Lord concerned the opportunity of reconsidering their action, by reading the following paragraph to the House (or Committee) before the Question is put –

    [To be read slowly] “I am instructed by order of the House to say that the motion “That the Question be now
    put” is considered to be a most exceptional procedure and the House will not accept it save in circumstances
    where it is felt to be the only means of ensuring the proper conduct of the business of the House; further, if a
    Lord who seeks to move it persists in his intention, the practice of the House is that the Question on the
    motion is put without debate.”

If, nevertheless, the Lord who is seeking to move the Closure persists in their intention, the Speaker or Chairman must put and complete the question forthwith without debate, thus – “The question is that the Question be now put.” If the Closure is carried –

1. the Speaker or Chairman without resuming their seat immediately puts and completes the original Question
    without further debate;
2. the original Question cannot be withdrawn, because the House or Committee decided that the Question be now
    put; and
3. the Speaker or Chairman may not put any other Question until the original Question has been disposed of.

If the Closure is not carried, the debate on the original Question is resumed.

Appendix: Unusual Proceedings on Divisions - Forms of Words (PDF PDF 98 KB)