LCD press notice 383/01
Date: 7 November 2001
The Government today published its proposals to create a credible and effective second chamber fit for the 21st Century.
Commenting on the Government's promised second stage of proposals to reform the House of Lords the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, said:
"The proposals in this White Paper mark a further step in the Government's continuing programme of constitutional reform. When we legislated in 1999 to remove most of the hereditary peers, we promised that we would complete the job of creating a modern and representative House of Lords, suitable for the 21st century. This White Paper fulfils that promise.
"As we pledged at the last General Election, they take, as their starting point, the proposals of the Royal Commission on Lords reform, chaired by Lord Wakeham, which we have pledged to implement in the most effective way possible.
"These proposals will deliver a House that respects the continued pre-eminence of the House of Commons as the elected representatives of the people.
"It will, at the same time, be more representative of the country as a whole. It will not be dominated by one political party. Nor will Governments be able to determine the membership to their advantage."
The main proposals are:
The remaining 92 hereditary peers left in the House after the first phase of reform (achieved by the House of Lords Act 1999) will lose their seats;
The link between the peerage and membership of the Lords will end, although existing Life Peers will retain membership of the reformed second chamber as a transitional measure and the peerage itself will remain, but purely as an honour;
Any Government's control over membership of the second chamber will be ended, with the creation of a statutory Appointments Commission to choose independent members and to determine, in accordance with rules, the proper level of membership in the reformed House for each of the major political parties, thus building on the present Prime Minister's relinquishment of much of his powers of patronage on a voluntary basis;
The majority of the members of the new chamber will be nominees of the major political parties, but around one fifth of the House (about 120 people) will be independent of party politics, 120 members will be elected to represent the nations and the regions and there will be a continuing role for the Church of England Bishops and the Law Lords;
The proposed legislation will include measures to boost the membership in the second chamber of both women and members of the ethnic minority communities;
The House will be capped, after 10 years (to allow an orderly transition), at 600, compared with over 700 members now.
The proposals will create a House that does not threaten the structure of democratic accountability that runs from the Government, via the House of Commons, to the people. It will be a revising and deliberative body, with the expertise and authority to ask the Commons to think again over a course of action. But, if the House of Commons insists that the course it has chosen must be followed, the Lords must, as now defer to the elected House.
The Government proposes no changes to the powers of the second chamber over Bills. But the House of Lords' powers over subordinate legislation will be changed to one of delay, to allow the House of Commons to think again, but not veto.
As promised in the Queen's Speech, the Government is consulting on all aspects of these proposals. It has said it particularly welcomes views on:
The overall balance of the membership package.
With which other set of main elections (e.g. a general election or an election to the European Parliament) should the new elections to the Lords be linked?
For how long should members be elected?
For how long should appointed members serve?
What actions should result in a member's disqualification from the House?
Should the new chamber move away from use of expenses as the means of payment?
Notes for Editors
The House of Lords - completing the reform (Cm 5291) is published by The Stationery Office.
The Royal Commission Report was entitled A House for the Future - Cm 4534, and was published in January 2000.
The period of consultation ends on 31 January 2002. Comments should be sent to:
Laura Beaumont
Lord Chancellor's Department
House of Lords Reform Team
Room 815-816 Millbank Tower
21-24 Millbank
London SW1P 4QP