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To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to reduce the number of peers who are eligible to sit in the House of Lords.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to reduce the number of peers who are eligible to sit in the House of Lords.
My Lords, the scrutiny and challenge role of the House of Lords is important, but the House has grown in size as introductions have increased faster than departures. The Government’s manifesto outlines several measures that could have the effect of reducing the size of the House. The first is the removal of hereditary Peers; further measures include retirement age and participation requirements. I am grateful for the debate that we had last month and the engagement of colleagues from across the House on these issues. I am keen to continue this ongoing dialogue about how best to implement these commitments.
I thank the noble Baroness the Leader of the House. If the aim of the Government is to reduce the size of the House, is not the most important action they can take to make an immediate commitment to follow a policy of restraint in making new appointments?
I agree with what I hope was the noble Baroness’s view that hereditary Peers make a big contribution to the work of this House. Against that, there are some appointed Peers who over the years have made little or no contribution to the House. They may be better candidates for removal than the hereditary Peers.
I thank the noble Baroness the Leader of the House. If the aim of the Government is to reduce the size of the House, is not the most important action they can take to make an immediate commitment to follow a policy of restraint in making new appointments?
I agree with what I hope was the noble Baroness’s view that hereditary Peers make a big contribution to the work of this House. Against that, there are some appointed Peers who over the years have made little or no contribution to the House. They may be better candidates for removal than the hereditary Peers.
First, I pay tribute to the noble Lord, who has been passionate on this issue for the same reason most of us are—we want an effective House that does the job it is charged with. His point about new appointments might have been better addressed to the last Government—I know he tried—because when the Labour Government left office after 12 years, we had 24 more Peers than the Opposition, but when the Conservatives left office they had 100 more Peers than the Labour Party. That difference between Government and Opposition, regardless of the parties, is too great. I am on record as saying that the House works better when the main party of government and of opposition have roughly equal numbers.
The noble Lord is absolutely right about participation, and I have been grateful to noble Lords from across the House who have suggested ways forward that we might look at. We will continue that dialogue on how we can have the most effective House possible, to ensure that it does the job it is here to do.
Lords private notice question on, in light of Friday’s announcement of the appointment of 26 new Peers, whether they plan to review the appointments system for Members of the House of Lords.
Lords private notice question on, in light of Friday’s announcement of the appointment of 26 new Peers, whether they plan to review the appointments system for Members of the House of Lords.
Lords statement on the referral to the Procedure Committee of the ability to move motions virtually without having given advance notice.
Lords statement on the referral to the Procedure Committee of the ability to move motions virtually without having given advance notice.
Lords statement on thanks to staff on the last sitting day before the Summer Recess.
Lords statement on thanks to staff on the last sitting day before the Summer Recess.
Lords announcement on conduct of virtual proceedings and that this will be the last week of virtual proceedings; next week a hybrid House will be introduced, followed by remote voting.
Lords announcement on conduct of virtual proceedings and that this will be the last week of virtual proceedings; next week a hybrid House will be introduced, followed by remote voting.
Lords announcement that there will be no live streaming of today's virtual proceedings due to unforeseen technical issues, which may breach the legal data compliance obligation.
Lords announcement that there will be no live streaming of today's virtual proceedings due to unforeseen technical issues, which may breach the legal data compliance obligation.
Lords announcement that from today, all virtual proceedings will be streamed live on parliamentlive.tv and on conduct of virtual proceedings for oral questions.
Lords announcement that from today, all virtual proceedings will be streamed live on parliamentlive.tv and on conduct of virtual proceedings for oral questions.
Lords statement on the Lord Speaker's attendance in the House.
Lords statement on the Lord Speaker's attendance in the House.
Lords statement on Parliament and the coronavirus pandemic.
Lords statement on Parliament and the coronavirus pandemic.
Lords statement on the publication of the report by the independent inquiry into bullying and harassment in the House of Lords.
Lords statement on the publication of the report by the independent inquiry into bullying and harassment in the House of Lords.
The Lord Speaker notified the House that he had received, under the European Parliament (House of Lords Disqualification) Regulations 2008, notification from the Regional Returning Officer of the election of Baroness Mobarik as a Member of the European Parliament for the Scotland region.
The Lord Speaker notified the House that he had received, under the European Parliament (House of Lords Disqualification) Regulations 2008, notification from the Regional Returning Officer of the election of Baroness Mobarik as a Member of the European Parliament for the Scotland region.
Lords statement on security.
Lords statement on security.