The Chief Whip in the House of Commons was also once known as the Patronage Secretary. For many years the Chief Whip had charge of money paid from the Consolidated Fund for 'secret service'. No account of the monies was required. It originally began as a fund to use at critical times to purchase confidential information respecting intrigues or enterprises hostile to England.
In the Nineteenth Century the money was used to cover the routine expenses of the Chief Whip's office. A sum of £10,000 was paid to the Patronage Secretary in four quarterly payments. Sometimes all the money was used, more often a huge surplus was allowed to accumulate. There were accusations that the Liberal Chief Whip, Arnold Morley, had used the fund to pay election expenses of some of the candidates in the 1886 General Election.
As a result of the row, the incoming Tory administration abolished 'secret service money'
Since the start of the new session I have been keeping a record of each day's business in the House of Lords. It is in the format of a blog. There may be a few days delay occasionally in the appearance of a report - because I need to use Hansard to compile it - which is easier on Tuesday through Thursdays.
The Chief Whip in the House of Commons was also once known as the Patronage Secretary. For many years the Chief Whip had charge of money paid from the Consolidated Fund for 'secret service'. No account of the monies was required. It originally began as a fund to use at critical times to purchase confidential information respecting intrigues or enterprises hostile to England.
The Committee Stage of a bill in the House of Lords can either be taken on the floor of the House, or in "Grand Committee". Unlike the House of Commons there are no 'Public Bill Committees' and most bills are dealt with in the chamber. 
This afternoon in the House of Commons the matter for debate will be 'European Affairs'. There are regular debates - usually held before a summit. This week is particularly busy within the European institutions. The Treaty of Lisbon will be signed on Thursday (in Lisbon, Portugal) and the European Council (the summit of EU Heads of Government) will meet on Friday in Brussels. A plenary session of the European Parliament is also being held this week in Strasbourg.
This blog normally deals with events and practices in the two capitals - Washington and London (although Westminster is a separate city from the City of London). Yet the capitals are very different from the rest of the country.
