The House yesterday debated the current economic situation. I mentioned in an earlier post some of the speakers who would be taking part. The debate can be found at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldhansrd/text/81103-0002.htm#0811039000009 The quality of the debate was commented on by the minister, Baroness Vadera, in her speech winding-up for the Government: “My Lords, it is rare…
I mentioned in an earlier post Lord Rowlands’ booklet on the House of Lords in the early eighteenth century. One notable feature of the House was that on occasion peers could sit in silence for fifteen or thirty minutes before anyone rose to say anything. Another distintive feature was the existence of proxy voting. An…
There will be a full debate in the House on Monday on the current economic situation. More than forty peers will be taking part. Lord Myners will lead for the Government. Speakers will include eight peers who have served in the Treasury (three as Chancellor of the Exchequer), economists (including four professors), leading figures in…
Following an earlier post, in which I referred to the officials’ box, a colleague thought it may be of interest to explain what it is. The officials’ box is at the top right corner of the picture. It is just beyond the benches in the chamber. It is occupied by civil servants drawn from the Department(s)…
My colleague, Lord Rowlands, a former Chairman of the History of Parliament Trust, has written a fascinating study of the House of Lords in the early eighteenth century. It reveals some notable differences from the present House. Then as now, debates could be lengthy. However, so too could speeches, with a peer sometimes speaking for…
