On 6 November, Alistair Lexden was formally appointed as a Deputy Chairman of Committees in the Lords, becoming one of a group of some 20 drawn from all parties and the crossbenches. Deputy Chairmen assist the Lord Speaker in performing his duties. In his absence, they preside over proceedings as required both in the chamber itself, sitting on the Woolsack, and in the Lords Grand Committee Room. Deputy Chairmen exercise all the functions of Deputy Speaker, a position to which Alistair Lexden will be formally appointed shortly by the Crown by Commission under the Great Seal.
He said: “I am honoured to have been appointed to this role and look forward to serving the House as a whole in this new capacity”. The post is unpaid and does not require a holder of it to cease to be a member of a party group in the Lords.