The Senior Deputy Speaker (Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede)

My Lords, the first part of this report proposes changes to guidance in the Companion with a view to upholding high standards of behaviour and courtesy in the Chamber. The committee recommends the strengthening of guidance to reinforce the long-standing conventions on attendance in the Chamber during debates and referring to other noble Lords. We also recommend an update to the guidance around the reading of speeches and propose a new paragraph on the dress code. To help the House make best use of the time allowed for Oral Questions, the committee proposes that the first supplementary question on each Oral Question should not exceed 45 seconds and that subsequent supplementary questions should not exceed 30 seconds. We also remind the House of the guidance already set out on interventions and talking in the Chamber. The committee also considered the rules on speaking times at amending stages of Bills to encourage the efficient use of time. The committee proposes that the advisory speaking time for Back-Benchers on Report and at subsequent amending stages should be reduced from 10 to eight minutes. This reflects well-established practice that debates should become increasingly focused and avoid repeating previous arguments at length as a Bill progresses through its amending stages. We also propose strengthening the guidance on withdrawing or pressing amendments to emphasise that the mover of an amendment should not make an extended speech at the end of a debate on a group of amendments. We further recommend strengthening the guidance in the Companion on debate at the “Bill do now pass” stage to emphasise that Members should not thank lists of named people who have supported them in their work on the Bill, well intentioned though this is. These changes, if agreed, will come into effect following the Conference Recess. Finally, the committee has authorised the production of a new edition of the Standing Orders. As part of this new edition, we propose four broadly technical amendments. The first is that Standing Order 21(4) be deleted to remove the reference to the Earl Marshal and the Lord Great Chamberlain as they are no longer Members of your Lordships’ House. The second is that Standing Order 56 be amended to make clear that a quorum of 30 applies to any Question relating to subordinate legislation. The third is that Standing Order 83 be repealed because its provisions are now obsolete. The fourth is that references to “virtual” contributions be changed to “remote” contributions for consistency across the document. I beg to move.