Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)
My Lords, we have another busy day ahead of us, with several Divisions planned. We have also seen increased moving around the Chamber when Divisions are called, with Members jumping up straightaway. I remind colleagues that once the question has been put, the voting system needs to be activated before the vote can take place. So would noble Lords please wait until they have been advised by the noble Lord on the Woolsack that voting is open, and he or she has sat down, before proceeding to the Lobbies?
After three minutes, the question will be put. Both sides need to say loudly, “Content” or “Not-Content” for the vote to continue. I ask noble Lords to remember that the microphones are on during Divisions—they pick up noble Lords’ conversations.
When noble Lords arrive in the voting Lobby, they should please place their pass firmly on the card reader and make sure that their vote is recorded. There is a “ping” and a visual confirmation on the screen that they have voted. The act of just walking through the Lobby is no longer casting a vote—it must be recorded by the reader. Votes can be close, so they should try not to be the noble Lord who lost the vote for their side because although they walked through the Lobby, they never actually voted.
Noble Lords should please leave the Lobbies quickly after voting and not stand behind Tellers, talking and making it hard for other noble Lords to walk through the Lobbies. We preserve these simple courtesies and procedures to improve the House for everyone—Members, clerks, doorkeepers and other staff alike—and to look better for the public who watch our proceedings.
Finally, if noble Lords have any concerns about their pass not having been activated or if it has recently been renewed, please call in to the Table Office before voting starts and the clerks present will ensure that their pass is working properly. Whatever noble Lords do, they should please not approach the Clerk at the Table during the Division, as they have an important job to do in ensuring that the Division takes place properly.