Evaluate The View That In Practice The House Of Lords Exerts More Influence Than The House Of Commons.

Question 1

P1: Disagree Power Over Legislation

Answer 1

1. The HoL legislative power is limited by the Salisbury Convention and the P Acts of 1911 and 1949. If the Ls reject a bill supported by the Cs, the Cs can use the P Act 1949 to force it through after a year; this has happened seven times, including for the Sexual Offences Act 2000.
2. The SC prevents the Lords from blocking bills that fulfill government manifesto pledges, allowing only technical amendments, not major changes. For example, the Lords cannot block the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill since it was in Labour’s 2024 manifesto.
3. The Parliament Acts also stop the Lords from delaying financial bills. When the Lords oppose or amend bills, they usually back down if the Commons insists, acknowledging their limited democratic legitimacy.
4. April 24 after 6 rounds of p ping pong, the HoL backed down on its amendments to the Safety of Rwanda Bill.

Question 2

P1: Agree HoL Does Exert Influence

Answer 2

1. HoL often concedes when the Cs rejects its amendments due to its limited democratic legitimacy, it sometimes stands firm, especially to protect human rights or respond to strong public opposition.
2. 2001, the Lords forced the government to remove incitement to religious hatred from anti-terrorism laws due to human rights concerns. With no majority in the Lords, governments with large Commons majorities face more defeats in the Lords, which acts as an effective opposition.
3. 2019, BJ government was defeated only 4 times in the Commons but 243 times in the Lords, showing the Lords’ greater influence in scrutinising and challenging legislation.

Question 3

P2: Agree Scrutiny

Answer 3

1. The Product Regulation and Meteorology Bill. Gave the UK ministers the power to unilaterally align the UK with EU regulations. Too much power with gov.
2. Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act, which had just one day of Commons scrutiny but three days in the Lords. Since reforms, the Lords has become more professional, with many life peers bringing political experience or specialist knowledge, enhancing their legislative scrutiny.
3. Lord Andrew Adonis, Labour peer who served as Secretary of State for transport under Gordon Brown.
4. Lord Mair is a geotechnical engineer and Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Cambridge and he is able to bring this expertise to his role as chair of
   the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee.
5. Spend more time scrutinising MPs spent just 24% of their time in the chamber between 2006 and 2021, compared to
   44% for Peers.

Question 4

P2: Disagree HoC exerts more influence with scrutiny

Answer 4

1. PMQs allows opposition leaders and backbenchers to question ministers weekly, as seen on 8 May 2024 when Starmer challenged the government on the ineffective Safety of Rwanda Bill, exposing flaws publicly. Said 2400 small boats had crossed in the 16 days since it has been passed.
2. May 2023, the government accepted or partly accepted all recommendations from the Foreign Affairs Select Committee’s report on updating the Integrated Review, including appointing a Director of Resilience to reduce UK dependency on other countries.

Question 5

P3: Disagree Other Powers

Answer 5

1. The HoC holds exclusive powers such as passing a vote of no confidence to bring down a government, last used in 1979 when the Callaghan government fell. It can also uphold minority governments through confidence and supply agreements.
2. 2017 Conservative-DUP agreement involving £1 billion for Northern Ireland.
3. Cs influences government through debates, including emergency debates and those chosen by the Backbench Business Committee, which sets topics for 35 days each session.
4. 5 December 2024, MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith led a debate on detained British nationals abroad, highlighting human rights concerns and pressing the Foreign Office for updates.

Question 6

P3: Agree Shaping Debate

Answer 6

1. The HoL plays an important role in raising awareness of key issues through expert-led debates, often covering topics that receive less attention in the HoC due to time constraints.
2. January 18, 2024, the Lords debated climate change, refugee integration, religious education, new vaccine adoption, and creating a parity between health and social care to address dementia.
3. Lords have the legal power under the Parliament Act 1911 to force a general election if the government tries to extend its term beyond five years.