Meeting of the new Parliament
It is anticipated that on Tuesday 17 December the House will meet at 2.30pm for a Royal Commission. When the House meets, and assuming the date of meeting above, the following arrangements will apply: The Commons will be summoned and directed to proceed to the choice of their Speaker and to present the person chosen for Her Majesty’s approval. The House will continue in session until 7.30pm in order to enable Members to take the Oath of Allegiance, or to affirm.
On Wednesday 18 December the House will meet at 2.30pm and it is expected that the Lords Commissioners will receive the Commons Speaker-elect. The House will remain sitting until 7.30pm, to enable Members to take the Oath.
Members attending the State Opening of Parliament must previously have taken the Oath. The Oath may not be taken in the morning of the State Opening.
Government Whips in the House of Lords
Lords Whips have the same constitutional position as Departmental Ministers. Their role in the House of Lords is different from that of Whips in the Commons, which is predominantly party management.
A Lords Whip has an active role at the despatch box promoting and defending departmental policy which involves:
- answering questions
- responding to debates
- taking through primary and secondary legislation
If the department concerned does not have a Departmental Minister in the House of Lords, all of that Department’s business will fall to a Whip.
House of Lords Government Whips:
Government Chief Whip and Captain of the Gentlemen at Arms
The Lord Ashton of Hyde
Government Deputy Chief Whip and Captain of The Queen's Bodyguard of the
Yeomen of the Guard
The Earl of Courtown
Government Whips (Baronesses and Lords in Waiting)
Baroness Berridge of The Vale of Catmose
Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen
Lord Bethell of Romford
