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Proceeding contribution from Lord Grocott (Labour) in the House of Lords on Tuesday, 25 March 2008. It occurred during Ministerial statement on Constitution.

Constitution

My Lords, I welcome my noble friend’s characteristically clear exposition of the relationship between the two Houses on war powers and treaties and his view, quite rightly, that in these areas—particularly war powers—the primacy of the Commons should be unarguable, if only for the practical reason that it would be a very bizarre constitution that provided for one House to agree to war powers and the other House to disagree. That is not the kind of subject that can be resolved by means of ping-pong. Can my noble friend assure us that the relationship between the two Houses, the powers of the two Houses and the subject of the Cunningham report will need to be central to any discussion—I hope it is to the all-party discussions that are taking place—and to any future discussions about a fundamental reform of this House?

Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
700 c472-3 
Session
2007-08
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Armed conflict Devolution Civil service Attorney General Church of England British constitution Bill of Rights House of Lords Judiciary Government departments Flags Intelligence and Security Committee Law Commission Dissolution Ministerial powers Prosecutions Public appointments Parliament Square Protest Parliamentary scrutiny Parliament Passports Prerogative of mercy Recall of parliament Scotland Treaties Reform Royal prerogative
Legislation
Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk