Reforming the House of Lords

Question 1

Functions of the House of Lords

Answer 1

Holding the executive to account:

• power of delay (one month money bills, a year for all others) Parliament Act 1949
• criticism of legislation by peers e.g. Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005
• scrutiny of legislation in the Lords Committees

Question 2

Current composition of the Lords

Answer 2

92 Hereditary peers
600 Life peers (or just under)
26 Lords Spiritual

Question 3

Criticisms of the House of Lords

Answer 3

Undemocratic - appointed not elected
Socially unrepresentative - prior to HoL Act 1999 16 female hereditary peers and 2 of ethnic minority
Not politically neutral - traditional Conservative bias
Poor attendance
‘Cash for peerages’ controversy with Blair

Question 4

Advantages of the House of Lords

Answer 4

Has expertise from age/experience through appointment
Does actually represent a variety of interests (different parties)
Differs greatly from the make-up of the Commons so is able to scrutinize without party pressures most of time

Question 5

Which act began the reforms and limited the no. of hereditary peers to 92?

Answer 5

House of Lords Act 1999

Question 6

The Royal Commission (2000)

Answer 6

Proposed:

• 550 members (elected and appointed)
• members chosen by party share, directly elected through PR and some elected in PR vote at same time as European Parliament Elections
• reduced CofE Bishops and introduced other faiths

Question 7

Blair’s White Paper (2001)

Answer 7

Proposed:

• scrapping all hereditary peers
• reduce no. to 600 and call Members of the House of Lords, paid to attend
• right to veto statutory instruments would be replaced with delaying power
• 60% appointed, 20% elected, 20% independent appointed
• no rep for other faiths, smaller number of CofE

Question 8

Joint Committee on HoL Reform (2004)

Answer 8

Options:
100% elected
80% elected
60% elected
20% elected
0% elected

Proposals failed due to lack of agreement between peers and MPs.

Question 9

Brown’s White Paper (2008)

Answer 9

In 2007 MPs voted for 100% or 80% elected second chamber. Lords voted for fully appointed.

Took position of MPs:

• single term of 12-15 years
• no hereditary peers
• smaller second chamber
• elections in thirds coinciding with general elections
• reserved seats for CofE if 20% appointed but fewer

Question 10

HoL Reform Draft Bill 2011 (Nick Clegg)

Answer 10

Proposed:

• 300 members, single term of three parliaments
• elections by STV, 1/3 at time coinciding with general elections
• continuation of CofE bishops reduced no.

Question 11

My argument of reform

Answer 11

HoL should not be elected - will mirror Commons
Needs to be based upon expertise
Could appoint experts from different fields e.g. Science, Law, Technology - greater scrutiny of legislation, require them to sit on committees
No role for hereditary peers
Is it relevant if our official religion is CofE to involve other faiths? No. HoC still has morning prayers and so retain linkage with history.