5.11  Questions and motions are expected to be worded in accordance with the practice of the House. The Clerks at the Table are available to give help to any member of the House in the drafting of a question or motion, and the advice tendered by the Clerks should be accepted.[175] However, there is no official who has the authority to refuse questions or motions on the ground of irregularity: and the form in which they appear in House of Lords Business is the responsibility of the member who hands them in, subject to the sense of the House which is the final arbiter.

5.12  It is not in order to incorporate statements of opinion or the demonstration of a point of view in the text of questions or motions for papers, or to italicise or underline words in the text of motions or questions in order to give them emphasis.[176] Statements of fact should be inserted in the text of questions only to the extent necessary to elicit the information sought.

5.13  It is open to any member of the House to call attention to a question or motion which has appeared on the order paper and to move that leave be not given to ask the question or move the motion, or to move that it be removed from the order paper. Such a motion should only be used in the last resort; it is debatable and is decided by the House.[177]

176   Procedure 1st Rpt 1985-86; 9th Rpt 1970-71. Back

177   LJ (1982-83) 108. Back