Committee publication · Correspondence · 2 July 2025

Correspondence from Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Senior Deputy Speaker, Chair of the Procedure and Privileges Committee, regarding call lists, dated 20 June 2025

Summary

Lord Kennedy of Southwark, Government Chief Whip, explains the operation of speakers' lists in the House of Lords to Lord Gardiner. Lists are used for general debates, questions for short debate, and second readings. They are managed by the Government Whips Office, close two working days before debates, and are ordered by party group coordination with Whips having final say. The system operates under self-regulation conventions and generally works effectively.

Key findings

Speakers' lists apply to general debates, questions for short debate, and second readings of bills; they do not apply to amending stages, secondary legislation, oral questions, or urgent business
Lists close two working days before debates (5pm Monday–Thursday, 4pm Friday), with rare exceptions for urgent debates; peers can sign up via Government Whips website, email, phone, or in person
Ordering follows a convention rotating between party groups (Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, Crossbench, Other Peers) with each group's peers placed in their suggested order and frontbench winders reserved
Final ordered list is published at least one hour before the House sits on the day's order paper—the first time peers see the definitive order, as last-minute withdrawals ('scratchers') are frequent
Peers who miss the deadline may speak in gaps between backbench and frontbench speakers if present at the debate's beginning and approved by Whips; peers cannot be removed without consent except by Usual Channels agreement if they miss the debate's opening

Tone

Procedural

Topics

parliamentary-procedurehouse-of-lordsbusiness-management

Key actors

Lord Kennedy of Southwark, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Government Whips Office, Usual Channels, Additional Support Group

Notable line

“As a self regulating House, save for the member leading the debate, individual Peers are not called in debates.”

Key Quotes

“Speaker's lists are used for: ● General debates (Government or other Peer led), whether formally time limited or not; ● Questions for short debate; and ● Second Readings of Government and Private Members Bills.”
— Lord Kennedy of Southwark · Explaining current application of speakers' lists

“They can only choose to participate virtually if they are on a small named list of Peers who are granted virtual participation by the Additional Support Group”
— Lord Kennedy of Southwark · Outlining restrictions on virtual participation

“Generally debates follow a ''standard'' order / convention in that after frontbench openers the list will rotate around the House e.g: Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, Crossbench, Other Peers, where possible and numbers are balanced.”
— Lord Kennedy of Southwark · Describing the ordering convention for speakers

“… the final ordered speakers list is published on today's list at least an hour before the House sits. This is the first time Peers see the final ordered list as there are often last minute withdrawals from the list (known as 'scratchers') or changes before publication.”
— Lord Kennedy of Southwark · Explaining when and why the final list is published late

“Peers can choose to ''scratch'' from the list, but they cannot be removed by the Whips office without their prior consent.”
— Lord Kennedy of Southwark · Setting out peers' rights to withdraw from lists

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗