Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Selsdon (Conservative). It was answered by Lord McNally (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 21 July 2010.

House of Lords: Reform

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how, in considering proposals for reform of the House of Lords, they define the present role of Members of the House of Lords.

Answer: My Lords, I find that a strange Question from a noble Lord who has been in this House for 37 years. In our debate on 12 July, a number of noble Lords defined what they thought their role here was. One said that it was as a parliamentarian, another said that it was as a legislator, another said that it was to hold the Executive to account, another said that it was to influence government policy and yet another said that it was to make a nuisance of themselves. I think that that combination makes a full job for a Member of this House.

Secondary information