Written question asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 July 2015, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 July 2015. It was answered by Lord Sewel (Non-affiliated) on Thursday, 23 July 2015 on behalf of the Chairman of Committees (HL).

All-party Parliamentary Groups

Question: To ask the Chairman of Committees what discussions have taken place between the House of Lords authorities and the Speaker of the House of Commons about the decision that only MPs can chair All-Party Parliamentary Groups.

Answer: No representations have been made by the House of Lords authorities to the Speaker of the House of Commons about the decision that only MPs can chair All-Party Parliamentary Groups. Since the House of Commons passed the first resolution regulating all-party groups in 1985, decisions on the rules for all-party groups have been for the House of Commons. The Register of All-Party Groups is maintained by the House of Commons Registrar and complaints of breach of the rules are investigated by the House of Commons Commissioner for Standards.

Secondary information