Procedure and Privileges

Debate between Lord Sikka and Lord Wolfson of Tredegar

Wednesday 16th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Sikka (Lab)]

My Lords, saying that questions need to be completed in 30 or 45 seconds is incredibly regressive. We have more Members, more Ministers, more ministries and more legislation than ever before, and to imagine that you can ask a detailed question in about 30 or 35 words is impossible. Somebody just mentioned people reading notes, but the people who read notes are Ministers: they often just read out their briefings and do not even answer the questions asked. I do not know whether this will apply to them as well —that they must not read and have to memorise all their briefings. I think it is a bad move, and I would certainly not support this kind of change.

[Lord Wolfson of Tredegar (Con)]

My Lords, I do not know whether the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes, has ever been to a synagogue board meeting, but I can assure him that that is an exception to the rule which he put forward as to orderly conduct of business. More substantively, I would not appear in the High Court without a tie, and I would not want to appear in the High Court of Parliament without one either. I gently remind the noble Lord that, when Arthur Andersen introduced dress-down Fridays, a Savile Row tailor was asked whether that would be the end of the suit; he replied that it would be the end of Arthur Andersen—and he was right.