Procedure of the House: Select Committee Report

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 3:45 pm on 24 July 2002.

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Photo of Lady Saltoun of Abernethy Lady Saltoun of Abernethy Crossbench 3:45, 24 July 2002

I have no faith in trial periods; I have no faith in trial periods ever coming to an end. I am glad that this one is to be limited to two years. But at the end of the two years its success or failure should be discussed by the Procedure Committee whose job it is to make recommendations to the House on such matters. After that the trial period should be considered by the House; it should not be allowed to continue, possibly by default, on account of unfortunate timing of a discussion in this House such as the last day before the holidays when many noble Lords may already have left. It is important that this issue is given proper consideration with plenty of time allowed. I do not have any faith in that happening unless it goes back to the Procedure Committee.