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The Senior Deputy Speaker

Speaking in the House of Lords on 23 October 2025

Debate

Standing Orders (Public Business)

Contribution

That the standing orders relating to public business be amended as follows: Standing Order 21 (Leave of absence) At end insert: “(9) Where a member who has been on leave of absence for an extended period applies to renew the absence, the Leave of Absence Sub-Committee of the Procedure and Privileges Committee may review the application. The Sub-Committee will then, having taken into account the length of time the member has been on leave of absence and any information provided in accordance with SO 21(3), decide either to grant or withhold leave of absence; if leave of absence is granted it will be backdated to the date of the member’s application or the date of State Opening, whichever is later.”

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