Select Committee on Procedure of the House Fourth Report



FOURTH REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE OF THE HOUSE

TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER 1998

BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE OF THE HOUSE

ORDERED TO REPORT:

1. LORD CHANCELLOR'S FORMAL DRESS

    The Committee considered a memorandum by the Lord Chancellor which proposed that:

    The Lord Chancellor told the Committee that on all ceremonial occasions he would wear breeches and tights, as he did now, and that, in his view, the dignity of the office of Lord Chancellor would not be reduced by the small change in dress he proposed. So far as his proposal to conduct government business from the Front Bench was concerned, he believed he could do so more efficiently if he did not have to act also as Speaker. In particular, the wearing of a full bottomed wig when taking a bill through the House was both restrictive and tiring.

    The Committee took note of the following points:—

    (i) The House attached great importance to its ceremonial. The role of the Lord Chancellor as Speaker of the House was a significant one. There would be a lessening of dignity and authority if the Lord Chancellor abandoned his traditional dress, even in such a modest way.

    (ii) Following the recent changes to the Introduction ceremony, the proposals could be seen as another move towards dismantling the richness and colour of the House's ceremonial and procedure.

    (iii) Breeches and tights were not worn by judges on a daily basis. These were reserved for ceremonial occasions, as proposed by the Lord Chancellor for himself.

    (iv) The Speaker of the House of Commons no longer wore a full bottomed wig. Why should the Lord Chancellor not also adapt his dress in the way proposed?

    (v) It was a great burden on Lord Chancellors when they had both to conduct government business and preside over the House, particularly at the Report stages of public bills.

    (vi) The Standing Orders of the House already acknowledged that there was a difference between the Lord Chancellor's role as Speaker and his role as a Minister. A move to the Government Front Bench would more clearly illustrate the difference in these roles.

    (vii) While the proposed changes, both to dress and procedure, were modest and practical, it would be desirable to postpone them until after the anticipated reform of the composition of the House.

    The Committee noted that there was strong opposition to both proposals made by the Lord Chancellor.

    The Committee nevertheless recommends that in future the Lord Chancellor should be able, if he wishes, to speak from the Government Front Bench, even when the House is sitting as a House. His place on the Woolsack would be taken by a Deputy Speaker. The Committee approved the necessary amendments to Standing Orders 15 and 16, which will be brought before the House in due course.

    The Committee also recommends that the Lord Chancellor should be able to wear trousers instead of breeches and tights on ordinary sitting days. The Committee took note of the Lord Chancellor's wish to wear his full uniform on all ceremonial occasions. The Committee also noted that there would be no change in the dress worn by Officers of the House.

2. QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

    The Committee reviewed the procedure recommended in November 1997[1] whereby questions for written answer are published only once, when they are tabled, and republished only if they are altered. Lords have found this practice inconvenient. The Committee recommends that all unanswered questions for written answer should be republished once a week in the Minutes of Proceedings. In order to reinforce the practice that questions for written answer should be answered within a fortnight, the Committee also recommends that questions unanswered after 21 days should be republished in the Minutes every day thereafter until they are answered.

3. WORKING GROUP ON PROCEDURE IN THE CHAMBER

    Following complaints that conduct in the House and adherence to its procedures have deteriorated recently, the Committee agreed to a proposal of the Leader of the House that a Working Group of backbenchers should be appointed to consider procedure in the Chamber, with the following terms of reference:

    Any proposals made by the Working Group would be referred to the Procedure Committee for consideration and approval.

4. CONDUCT IN THE CHAMBER

    The Committee reviewed its recommendation in its 3rd Report[2] that Lords should not speak with their hands in their pockets. Representations have been made to the Committee that it is not appropriate to regulate the conduct of Lords in such detail. Accordingly, the Committee recommends that this decision be set aside.

5. GOVERNMENT ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS BY E-MAIL

    The Committee agreed to a proposal by the Government for a pilot scheme to use electronic means to improve the processing of Questions for Written Answer in Parliament and Government. Answers approved by Ministers will be sent electronically to Parliament and by e-mail to the Peer, if he wishes. The electronic arrangements will provide an additional service for those who wish to use it. The present arrangements, with the usual paper copy of the answer, will continue.


2nd Report, 1997-98, paragraph 3 (HL Paper 38). Back
3rd Report, 1997-98, HL Paper 106. Back

 
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