Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords information
British peer in charge of debate in Parliament's upper house
Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords
Logo used to represent the House of Lords
Flag of the House of Lords
Incumbent The Lord Gardiner of Kimble since 11 May 2021
House of Lords
Style
Senior Deputy Speaker (informal and within the house)
His or her own peerage title
Status
Deputy presiding officer
Appointer
House of Lords Approved and sworn in by the Sovereign
Website
Official website
The Senior Deputy Speaker is an officer of the House of Lords whose main role is to preside over the House when it is in committee (i.e., considering a bill at committee stage), either in the Lords Chamber or in Grand Committee, which is when committee stage is taken away from the floor to free up debating time in the main Chamber. The Senior Deputy Speaker deputises for the Lord Speaker, and like the Lord Speaker withdraws from political party membership. Additionally, the Senior Deputy Speaker chairs various select committees of the House, and has a role in the administration of the House.
The current incumbent, John Gardiner, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, took the office on 11 May 2021.[1] Up until September 2016 the position was known as Chairman of Committees.[2]
The Senior Deputy Speaker is assisted by a panel of Deputy Chairmen of Committees. In addition to taking the chair in Committee of the Whole House and Grand Committee, Deputy Chairmen are appointed from time-to-time to serve with the Chairman of Committees on unopposed bill committees, which scrutinise private bills against which no petitions have been lodged.[3] Deputy Chairmen are, by practice, Deputy Speakers.[4]
In March 2020, the Lord Speaker, Lord Fowler, announced that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, he would be withdrawing from Westminster and leaving woolsack duties to his deputies.[5] On Monday 23 March the house agreed to a motion that, until 21 July, any member could perform the deputy speakers' functions.[6]
^"House of Lords: Senior Deputy Speaker". UK Parliament. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
^"Senior Deputy Speaker". Hansard. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
^Private Standing Order 121.
^"Deputy Speakers".
^"Lord Speaker's Statement". Hansard. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
^"Appointment of Deputy Chairmen of Committees (panel)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
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