Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords

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, Lord McFall of Alcluith, took the office on 1 September 2016. Up until September 2016 the position was known as Chairman of Committees.[1]

The Senior Deputy Speaker is assisted by the Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees and a panel of Deputy Chairmen of Committees. The Principal Deputy Chairman is Earl of Kinnoull. 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.[2] Deputy Chairmen are, by practice, Deputy Speakers.[3]

On 19 March 2020 the Lord Speaker announced that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, he would be withdrawing from Westminster and leaving woolsack duties to his deputies.[4] On Monday 23 March the house agreed to a motion that, until 21 July, any member could perform the deputy speakers' functions.[5]

Panel of deputy chairmen

As of 21 April 2020, the panel of Deputy Chairmen are:[6][7]

Member Party
The Lord Alderdice Liberal Democrats
The Baroness Andrews Labour
The Lord Bates Conservative
The Lord Boswell of Aynho Conservative
The Lord Brougham and Vaux Conservative
The Lord Dear Crossbench
The Lord Duncan of Springbank Conservative
The Lord Faulkner of Worcester Labour
The Baroness Finlay of Llandaff Crossbench
The Baroness Fookes Conservative
The Baroness Garden of Frognal Liberal Democrats
The Lord Geddes Conservative
The Lord Haskel Labour
The Baroness Henig Labour
The Lord Lexden Conservative
The Lord McAvoy Labour
The Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall Labour
The Lord McNicol of West Kilbride Labour
The Baroness Morris of Bolton Conservative
The Baroness Newlove Conservative
The Lord Palmer of Childs Hill Liberal Democrats
The Baroness Pitkeathley Labour
The Lord Rogan Ulster Unionist
The Lord Russell of Liverpool Crossbench
The Viscount Simon Labour
The Lord Taylor of Holbeach Conservative
The Viscount Ullswater Conservative

Chairmen of Committees

Senior Deputy Speakers

See also

References
  1. "Senior Deputy Speaker". Hansard. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  2. Private Standing Order 121.
  3. "Deputy Speakers".
  4. "Lord Speaker's Statement". Hansard. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  5. "Appointment of Deputy Chairmen of Committees (panel)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  6. "Deputy Speakers – Minutes of Proceedings of the House of Lords for 5 March 2018". House of Lords, UK Parliament.
  7. "Deputy Speakers – Minutes of Proceedings of the House of Lords for 21 April 2020". House of Lords, UK Parliament.
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