Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 2:40 pm on 2 September 2025.
Lord Young of Cookham
Deputy Chairman of Committees, Deputy Speaker (Lords)
2:40,
2 September 2025
My Lords, is it not the case that the House authorities can already block access to inappropriate sites? When I was in the other place, my opposite number the Australian Chief Whip presented me with a 12-foot bullwhip, and the Ministerial Code required me to find out its value. When my private office went online to try to find its value, they were blocked for accessing inappropriate adult material.
The House of Lords. When used in the House of Lords, this phrase refers to the House of Commons.
The government chief whip, whose official title is parliamentary secretary to the Treasury, is appointed by the prime minister and is responsible to him.
The chief whip has to maintain party discipline and to try to ensure that members of the party vote with the government in important debates.
Along with the other party whips he or she looks after the day-to-day management of the government's business in Parliament.
The chief whip is a member of the Cabinet.
It is customary for both the government and the opposition chief whips not to take part in parliamentary debates.
The chief whip's official residence is Number 12 Downing Street.
