Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)
My Lords, before we move on to the main business, I want to start with some words of thanks to staff across the House and all colleagues ahead of Summer Recess. I am delighted to be able to confirm the current plan for the start of Summer Recess next year. Subject to the progress of business, we will rise at the conclusion of business on Thursday 23 July 2026—everyone can now rush off to book their summer holidays with family and friends.
I turn to my thanks ahead of this summer. I am sure colleagues will agree that it has felt like a very long term. Since July 2024, we have sat for 180 days. Twenty-five Bills have already received Royal Assent and a further eight government Bills are currently before the House. Beyond Bills, we have had 619 Oral Questions, 150 Statements, 86 general debates, including 23 debates on Select Committee reports, and, until yesterday, 170 Divisions. None of this would be possible without the hard work of the House staff. It would be impossible to cover everyone, but my usual channel colleagues and I have tried to co-ordinate to cover as many teams as possible.
I start with thanks to some specific people and teams. First, I thank the Public Bill Office, which has handled what must feel like record levels of amendments and weeks of heavy Committee stages. It has told me that, from returning after Easter until just 30 June, we have considered and disposed of 1,500 amendments. I know Members find its guidance on navigating the complexities of legislation invaluable. Secondly, I thank the Table clerks, who have shown great patience and dedication. Their guidance has been critical to all sides of the House. I pay particular tribute to the Deputy Speakers, who so ably assist the Lord Speaker and the Senior Deputy Speaker. I am sure colleagues will agree that their work often goes unnoticed. We should find a way to recognise their special contribution to the House.
I thank the security officers and police, who deal with difficult circumstances quietly every day and keep us safe as we carry out our work. I extend this to the attendants, who provide critical and often unnoticed support for all Members to undertake their roles. I thank my colleagues across the House for their support, particularly the Labour Benches and Front Bench, and the Government Whips who support me so ably. I thank the Government Whips’ Office and the leaders’ offices, and the outer office in particular, which quietly run many of the processes we have all come to know and rely on, including Today’s List and the website, which allows colleagues to participate in debates. They tell me that, since Christmas alone, they have overseen nearly 90 speakers’ lists.
I thank Hansard for its dedication in producing the important formal records of our debates. Its work ensures that we are transparent and accessible to the public. I pay particular tribute to Nick Lester, who is leaving his post shortly as the PA’s chief Lords reporter. His work has shed much-needed light on the work of the House.
We have had formal tributes, but I want to put on record my personal thanks to the now former Black Rod for her friendship and support, especially as I navigated my new role as Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms. I thank her office for the many state visits that have been dealt with in a professional manner and for managing the transition to the new Black Rod, who will no doubt continue to conduct the role in the same way.
Finally, I say a special thank you to my usual channel colleagues. While we may sometimes not agree on the substance, which is part of our job, we usually do so with good humour, laughter and friendship, for which I am eternally grateful. I have huge respect for the noble Baroness, Lady Williams of Trafford, the noble Lord, Lord Stoneham of Droxford, and the noble Earl, Lord Kinnoull. Thank you so much for how we work together. My door always remains open for all colleagues across the House to discuss any issues or areas where I might be of help.
I hope everyone has a restful Summer Recess and is ready to return on 1 September for further consideration in Committee of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Before that, I hope that everyone has an enjoyable summer with family and friends.
Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con)
My Lords, as the Government Chief Whip read out the various statistics of how long we have sat—the number of days, Questions and Divisions—the House must have felt every one of them. It has been a very long stint indeed.
I take this opportunity before we all head off to Summer Recess to thank all those who work in the House administration for their efforts in enabling this place to function. The work done by staff in the catering departments, the Committee Office and the Library, and across the accommodation and facilities teams, is not recognised enough. I know that noble Lords across the House will join me in paying tribute to them and the work they do in supporting all noble Lords day in, day out, often through late nights.
It is important to remember that we work in a building that is at least 155 years old—some parts are older than others; the door is very new—and in offices which span Westminster. The teams that keep those buildings going, our offices clean and all the facilities that we use in working order are greatly appreciated by noble Lords across the House. The same can be said of the catering teams, who, we must not forget, stay up with us during late sittings, provide us with food and cheer throughout the day, and work hard to sustain us and our staff. I know that I speak on behalf of all noble Lords when I say that we appreciate them and their hard work and recognise the vital contribution they make to this place.
I thank staff in the Committee Office and the Library for all that they do to allow this House to perform its core functions: to hold the Government to account and to scrutinise the legislation they seek to pass. The Library and the work of committees is fundamental in allowing us to do that. It is with them that we can do this in an informed, accurate and effective way.
Last but not least, I extend my thanks to the noble Earl, Lord Kinnoull, the noble Lord, Lord Stoneham, and, of course, the Government Chief Whip the Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms and his office for the work that they do in managing the business of the House. He knows that I respect him hugely and I am glad that the feeling is mutual. It has been a particularly busy period for us, and we have a lot to debate, scrutinise and discuss. I know that he has a tough task. I recognise the work that he and his office do on a daily basis. We do not agree on everything. Sometimes we violently disagree on certain things, but never in front of the children—for that, read the House. I appreciate the relationship we have built up since the election and beforehand, and look forward to working with him after the Recess to make sure that this House and all noble Lords have the opportunity to question what the Government are doing, how they are doing it and what they could do better. When I was Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms, I always provided the noble Lord, Lord Kennedy, with vast quantities of biscuits and cake to keep him sweet. That has been deficient in his tenure, so I look forward to more biscuits and cakes—I know that he eats them all.
Fundamentally, this is why all Members of your Lordships’ House are here today. It is in this spirit that we will seek to engage with the noble Lord and the usual channels, as we have done so far. I wish all noble Lords and the staff of this House a very happy Recess.
Lord Stoneham of Droxford (LD)
My Lords, I begin by placing on record our thanks to the doorkeepers. Their consistent and reliable presence is a key part of the daily functions of this House. Their professionalism and courtesy ensure that our proceedings are conducted in an orderly and dignified manner.
I also wish to acknowledge the invaluable work of our colleagues in the Parliamentary Digital Service. Their technical expertise underpins much of our ability to operate effectively, particularly in meeting the changing demands of hybrid working. Their support has been dependable throughout the Session and is greatly appreciated by many Members and their staff, who often need their support on a daily basis.
Our thanks are likewise due to all the cleaning staff, whose work, though often undertaken outside the visible hours of this House, is no less vital. They are some of the unsung heroes of the Palace of Westminster. They play a crucial role in maintaining the cleanliness and safety of the Parliamentary Estate at all times and we are hugely grateful for all that they do.
I thank the Printed Paper Office. Its precise and dependable service is integral to the smooth conduct of business in this House and its commitment to accuracy and efficiency is greatly valued by all who rely on its work. Our thanks are due to it.
I would like to thank my colleagues in the usual channels and pay great tribute to the service given by our group leader Dick, my noble friend Lord Newby, who is standing down today after nine years of service. I welcome and congratulate our new leader Jeremy, my noble friend Lord Purvis.
Sometimes in recent weeks, as we have debated the Employment Rights Bill late into the night, long after the Commons has gone home, I have found somewhat ironic and questionable the conditions and hours we impose on ourselves and the staff. I hope we will look again at our working conditions and hours in the very near future.
Finally, as others have said, I wish all Members across the House, and all staff in all teams, a restful and restorative Summer Recess.
The Earl of Kinnoull (CB)
My Lords, on behalf of these Benches, I echo all the thanks expressed so far today. The noble Lord, Lord Kennedy, praised the Deputy Speakers who so ably guide us through proceedings but, as noble Lords know, they themselves are dependent on the Lord Speaker’s brief. This brief is prepared daily by the team in the Clerk of the Parliaments’ Office, which does its very best to cover every possible procedural eventuality or oddity that your Lordships can throw at it, whether described as “shenanigans” or not. I should say that I had to look up “shenanigans” and Google takes you straight to a theatre in Hoxton Square called Shenanigans Cabaret, which says it delivers “comedy and variety acts”—I felt that was rather appropriate. This team has helped us very expertly through some very challenging moments so far this year, and I thank them and indeed all the energetic office of the Clerk of the Parliaments at the heart of our House.
It is due to the organisational mastery of the Lord Speaker’s Office that Deputy Speakers are in the right place at the right time, and I can say, from embarrassed experience, that it is never the Lord Speaker’s Office at fault if they are not. Another thing that the office is particularly good at is gossip; it is said that a rumour started in the West Front corridor is already known in the Lord Speaker’s Office before one can sprint there. All this is only a small part of the Lord Speaker’s very busy office, who are always of good cheer and serve arguably the best coffee in our House, and I thank them as well.
One group of colleagues who are constant, and with us on that late shift, are the clerks at the Table and in the Table Office. They are a very loyal and stable band; indeed, Chloe Mawson remarked to me yesterday that she joined the House as an assistant clerk and, 20 years on, has moved up to being Clerk Assistant. Since the general election, the Table Office clerks have helped to draft nearly 10,000 Written Questions and well over 600 Oral Questions, a pace that I fear will not let up in September. I thank them all as well.
Finally, there to capture it all is the Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit. Theirs is no easy task, carried out with total professionalism across the Chamber, Moses Room and our committee rooms. Even when speeches are not quite hitting the mark, somehow their camera operators always manage to find a good angle. Indeed, they capture the essence and many moods of our House so well, and I thank them.
In closing, I add my thanks to my colleagues in the usual channels for the many kindnesses they have extended to the Cross Benches, which are numerous and we are very grateful for them. I have learned about Jaffa cakes and now get offered them when I go and see the shadow Chief Whip. I am worried that I am being buttered up in some way—but I do not mind, because I love Jaffa cakes.
I wish all the staff of the House and all noble Lords a restful and splendid summer.