The Senior Deputy Speaker written question – answered at on 5 February 2026.
Baroness Falkner of Margravine
Crossbench
To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker what is the cost to the House of Lords Administration of a sitting Friday that rises at (1) 3.00pm, and (2) 6.00pm, including the costs of members' attendance claims and Administration staffing costs.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, The Senior Deputy Speaker, Chair, Standing Orders (Private Bills) Committee (Lords), Chair, Standing Orders (Private Bills) Committee (Lords), Chair, Committee of Selection (Lords), Chair, Committee of Selection (Lords), Chair, Liaison Committee (Lords), Chair, Liaison Committee (Lords), Chair, Hybrid Instruments Committee (Lords), Chair, Hybrid Instruments Committee (Lords), Chair, Procedure and Privileges Committee, Chair, Procedure and Privileges Committee, Chair, Sub-Committee on Leave of Absence, Chair, Sub-Committee on Leave of Absence
It is not possible to disaggregate allowances claimed by Members of the House of Lords for attendance captured within specific time periods. Average attendance for a sitting Friday in the 2024-26 Parliamentary Session to date is 264 Members, with an average cost in members’ allowances claims for those dates of £78,165.00.
I am advised of the specific costs relating to three areas of the House of Lords Administration—Security, Catering and Hansard—for both a sitting Friday that rises at the conventional 3pm time and, if relevant, a 6pm finish time are listed below. These costs have been identified as an additional expenditure, outside of any arrangements undertaken by other teams to adapt within their conditioned hours.
Security The additional cost for a sitting Friday as opposed to a non-sitting Friday is approximately £4,500 in police overtime costs, with no difference in cost for the House sitting beyond 3pm. Any remaining security costs are fixed.
Catering The approximate net cost of catering services on a sitting Friday estimated to rise at 3pm are approximately £2,530. This is to provide the additional catering services required, (that would normally be closed on a non-sitting Friday), namely; Peers Dining Room, Peers Guest Room and Peers Long Room.
For a sitting beyond 3pm, the cost of the House is approximately £450 to provide cover up until the rise of the House.
Hansard Hansard have included an extra Reporter, either freelance or part time, at a cost of about £215 per day for a sitting Friday beyond the conventional 3pm finishing time.
Yes1 person thinks so
No0 people think not
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The Deputy speaker is in charge of proceedings of the House of Commons in the absence of the Speaker.
The deputy speaker's formal title is Chairman of Ways and Means, one of whose functions is to preside over the House of Commons when it is in a Committee of the Whole House.
The deputy speaker also presides over the Budget.
The house of Lords is the upper chamber of the Houses of Parliament. It is filled with Lords (I.E. Lords, Dukes, Baron/esses, Earls, Marquis/esses, Viscounts, Count/esses, etc.) The Lords consider proposals from the EU or from the commons. They can then reject a bill, accept it, or make amendments. If a bill is rejected, the commons can send it back to the lords for re-discussion. The Lords cannot stop a bill for longer than one parliamentary session. If a bill is accepted, it is forwarded to the Queen, who will then sign it and make it law. If a bill is amended, the amended bill is sent back to the House of Commons for discussion.
The Lords are not elected; they are appointed. Lords can take a "whip", that is to say, they can choose a party to represent. Currently, most Peers are Conservative.
