Question

To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker what consideration the Procedure and Privileges Committee has given, if any, to introducing advisory speaking times for speeches at (1) report stage, and (2) ping pong.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

The Procedure and Privileges Committee’s Third Report of session 2023-24 (HL Paper 73) recommended various changes intended to encourage brevity during the amending stages of bills, including at report stage and during Lords consideration of Commons amendments. It recommended that the advisory speaking time for backbench members during all amending stages should be reduced from 15 minutes to 10 minutes, except where a backbencher moves the lead amendment in a group (when they would have 15 minutes,). It also recommended guidance that members other than the minister pressing or withdrawing an amendment at the end of a debate should be brief. These recommendations were agreed by the House on 19 March 2024, and the guidance is set out in paragraph 4.41 of the Companion to the Standing Orders.

The report is available online here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5804/ldselect/ldproced/73/73.pdf and is attached to this answer.

The Procedure and Privileges Committee will continue to keep the House’s procedures under review.

Question

To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker what consideration the Procedure and Privileges Committee has given to (1) revising paragraph 6.30 of the Companion to the Standing Orders to amend rules in order to reduce the length of ministers’ replies to oral questions, and (2) the publication of a record of the length of members’ questions and answers.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

The Procedure and Privileges Committee has not considered this specific issue. The Committee keeps the procedures of the House under review, and I am always happy to discuss them with members.

Question

To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment has been made of the compliance of the access arrangements at the new Peers’ Entrance doorway with the requirement to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

It has been confirmed by an independent assessment undertaken by an accessibility specialist that the Peers' Entrance provides an accessible step free access into the Palace of Westminster in accordance with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and relevant Building Regulations.

Question

To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker who approved the installation of the new statue in the Norman Porch; and what consideration was given to making it in keeping with the style of the busts on display in the same space.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

The statue May Flights of Angels sing thee to thy Rest by Eleanor Crook was commissioned and approved by the Lord Speaker’s Advisory Panel on Works of Art, with consultation and additional approval sought from other stakeholders, including the Royal Household. The Panel considered the aesthetic and operational impact of the sculpture in its eventual position, including other artworks in the area, and viewed the site to ensure conformity with its surroundings. The artist conducted extensive research to match the style of the sculpture to elements of the building fabric.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enhance bilateral relations with Taiwan and to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO).

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 9 March in response to Question HL14926 (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-02-26/hl14926).

Found: until Dec 2024) Cynthia Alers (Board member from June 2024, Chair from Dec 2024 – 30 Nov 2025) Lord Blencathra