To ask the Chairman of Committees whether Members of the House of Lords who are Freemasons are required to register that fact in the Register of Interests.

To ask the Chairman of Committees whether Members of the House of Lords who are Freemasons are required to register that fact in the Register of Interests.

Lords motion to agree the third report from the Privileges and Conduct Select Committee on Amendments to the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Code; Redaction of written evidence to defunct select committees (HL 143), Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to agree the third report from the Privileges and Conduct Select Committee on Amendments to the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Code; Redaction of written evidence to defunct select committees (HL 143), Agreed to on question.

My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. The third report from the Committee for Privileges and Conduct recommends various amendments to the Code of Conduct and the guide to the code, and one other change. If these amendments are agreed, the...

My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. The third report from the Committee for Privileges and Conduct recommends various amendments to the Code of Conduct and the guide to the code, and one other change. If these amendments are agreed, the...

My Lords, I should like to ask the Chairman of Committees a question on the first of the proposals in relation to the committee considering sanctions against Members. Paragraph 2 of the report states:

“We believe that in rare circumstances it may be appropriate for the Committee for Privileges and Conduct...

My Lords, I should like to ask the Chairman of Committees a question on the first of the proposals in relation to the committee considering sanctions against Members. Paragraph 2 of the report states:

“We believe that in rare circumstances it may be appropriate for the Committee for Privileges and Conduct...

I am very grateful to the noble Lord for raising that issue. It is important to clarify this matter. The committee saw this as being in exceptionally rare circumstances. It would be a very occasional route to take in very specific circumstances. I have been Chairman of Committees for more...

I am very grateful to the noble Lord for raising that issue. It is important to clarify this matter. The committee saw this as being in exceptionally rare circumstances. It would be a very occasional route to take in very specific circumstances. I have been Chairman of Committees for more...

I am sorry to follow this up, but in that case should something not be said in the actual amendment to that effect?

I am sorry to follow this up, but in that case should something not be said in the actual amendment to that effect?

I hope that my clarification today will be sufficient, but we will look at it to see whether it would help to put it in the amendment.

I hope that my clarification today will be sufficient, but we will look at it to see whether it would help to put it in the amendment.

My Lords, this report follows an investigation by the Commissioner for Standards into the conduct of the noble Lord, Lord Redesdale. The commissioner received a complaint alleging that the noble Lord, Lord Redesdale, breached

the Code of Conduct by not registering certain interests in the Register of Lords’ Interests and...

My Lords, this report follows an investigation by the Commissioner for Standards into the conduct of the noble Lord, Lord Redesdale. The commissioner received a complaint alleging that the noble Lord, Lord Redesdale, breached

the Code of Conduct by not registering certain interests in the Register of Lords’ Interests and...

Lords motion to agree the second report from the Privileges and Conduct Committee on The Conduct of Lord Redesdale (HL 78). Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to agree the second report from the Privileges and Conduct Committee on The Conduct of Lord Redesdale (HL 78). Agreed to on question.

Lords debate on motion to agree the second report from the Privileges Select Committee on the Guide to the Code of Conduct (HL 81 2009-10). Agreed to on question. (Debated with Lords motion to agree the second report from the House Select Committee on the Rules Governing the Use of Facilities (HL 47 2009-10)).

Lords debate on motion to agree the second report from the Privileges Select Committee on the Guide to the Code of Conduct (HL 81 2009-10). Agreed to on question. (Debated with Lords motion to agree the second report from the House Select Committee on the Rules Governing the Use of...

The battle but not the war.

The battle but not the war.

I am glad that the noble Lord says that it is perfectly clear. Throughout the proceedings, we have tried to strike a balance between not discouraging noble Lords who have experience and expertise in these matters and know what they are talking about from speaking, and at the same time...

I am glad that the noble Lord says that it is perfectly clear. Throughout the proceedings, we have tried to strike a balance between not discouraging noble Lords who have experience and expertise in these matters and know what they are talking about from speaking, and at the same time...

My Lords, I do not disagree with the definition, but there should be an automatic exclusion from taking part in parliamentary activities. It is perfectly clear.

My Lords, I do not disagree with the definition, but there should be an automatic exclusion from taking part in parliamentary activities. It is perfectly clear.

I am dealing with the guide to the code before us this afternoon. On those grounds, it would probably be a mistake for me to speculate. I am trying to answer as many questions as I can. The noble Lord, Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe, asked about putting a register of...

I am dealing with the guide to the code before us this afternoon. On those grounds, it would probably be a mistake for me to speculate. I am trying to answer as many questions as I can. The noble Lord, Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe, asked about putting a register of...

Does my noble friend accept that a resolution of the House would be an alternative to legislation in the event that legislation were to be delayed?

Does my noble friend accept that a resolution of the House would be an alternative to legislation in the event that legislation were to be delayed?

My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have spoken in this fascinating and wide-ranging debate. However, I hope noble Lords will agree that it is time for me to try to answer the points that have been made. Although I cannot guarantee to answer every point, I...

My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have spoken in this fascinating and wide-ranging debate. However, I hope noble Lords will agree that it is time for me to try to answer the points that have been made. Although I cannot guarantee to answer every point, I...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes, drew attention to the fact that I had not spoken this afternoon. The reason I have not spoken up to now is to see how many people would get up on this point. I am glad to say that the noble Lord, Lord...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes, drew attention to the fact that I had not spoken this afternoon. The reason I have not spoken up to now is to see how many people would get up on this point. I am glad to say that the noble Lord, Lord...

We’ll see, my Lords. The noble Lord also asked—this is probably the last question that I have to answer—why the Lords spiritual were dealt with differently. As I pointed out to the right reverend Prelate, that is the case only regarding the stipend, and this applies only to paragraphs 8(c)...

We’ll see, my Lords. The noble Lord also asked—this is probably the last question that I have to answer—why the Lords spiritual were dealt with differently. As I pointed out to the right reverend Prelate, that is the case only regarding the stipend, and this applies only to paragraphs 8(c)...

My Lords, I, too, agree with the general thrust and the vast majority of the recommendations of the report. I have just two reservations. I have been waiting for the noble Lord, Lord Stoddart, to raise again the matter that he raised in the previous debate on the subject and...

My Lords, I, too, agree with the general thrust and the vast majority of the recommendations of the report. I have just two reservations. I have been waiting for the noble Lord, Lord Stoddart, to raise again the matter that he raised in the previous debate on the subject and...

As a member of the Eames group, may I for the record also associate myself with the sentiments expressed by the noble and right reverend Lord, Lord Eames, and say that the guidance that has now been revised is in my view better focused and has greater clarity than when...

As a member of the Eames group, may I for the record also associate myself with the sentiments expressed by the noble and right reverend Lord, Lord Eames, and say that the guidance that has now been revised is in my view better focused and has greater clarity than when...