Arrangement of Business

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon Excerpts

Friday 27th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Harper (Con)]

Again, the groans do not suggest that people are listening with courtesy and respect. I have been in this Chamber for every single minute of debate on this Bill and have listened to every contribution, even those that I fundamentally do not agree with, with courtesy and respect. I think it is good that we all do that on a Bill of such importance, which is being viewed by people outside this Chamber.

The final point I was going to say is that we would have made more progress if many of the known issues with this Bill when it was first introduced and left the other place had been dealt with at an earlier stage. We are making progress; we have improved the Bill. We accepted the amendment the noble and learned Lord tabled on dealing with the well-known issue of anorexia. We have improved the Bill, but that could have been done a long time ago. Those complaining about the lack of progress ought to reflect on their own contribution to the Bill not being in a state where we are able to make swifter progress and move to Report at an earlier opportunity.

[Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Lab)]

May I suggest we heed the very wise advice of the noble Lord, Lord Lansley, and proceed today, as the noble Baroness said, and get through as many groups as possible, making amendments as we see fit as a Chamber? We should do our job of scrutiny, which is exactly why we are here.

[Baroness Fox of Buckley (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, I rise because as this discussion started somebody in my vicinity said, “If this isn’t filibustering, I don’t know what is”. I want to point out that it is demoralising to have one’s reputation impugned and defamed with the suggestion that somehow all people are doing is playing parliamentary games, when actually we are acting in good faith. I have not spoken on amendments I put my name to, for example. I have cut speeches that I have written.

I want to refer to writing speeches. I do write speeches, and I read them out. Why is that? I am trying to be disciplined and keep to time and not just ramble on. This is a very important Bill with important issues that affect the lives of many people. I want to be sensitive to that, so I write down every word trying to make it count for something. I do not think that is filibustering.