Committees

An effective Second Chamber? The House of Lords inquiry

Inquiry

Though a far-reaching attempt by the coalition Government at House of Lords reform (in the form of the House of Lords Reform Bill) failed during the last Parliament, and the current Government's election manifesto expressly stated that a reform to introduce an elected component was "not a priority", the manifesto did commit the Government to ensuring "the House of Lords continues to work well by addressing issues such as the size of the chamber". This inquiry will focus on how best the Government can fulfil this pledge, while acknowledging that a more extensive reform is unlikely in the short to medium term. In doing so this inquiry builds on the work undertaken by the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee during the last Parliament into possible incremental reforms. The Committee will seek to identify the "unarguable next steps" for reform of the House of Lords.

Reports, special reports and government responses

No reports or special reports published.

Oral evidence transcripts

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14 March 2017
Inquiry An effective Second Chamber? The House of Lords inquiry
Witnesses Baroness Smith of Basildon, Shadow Leader of the House of Lords, Lord Hope of Craighead, Convenor of the Crossbench peers, Lord Newby, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords
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Oral Evidence
31 January 2017
Inquiry An effective Second Chamber? The House of Lords inquiry
Witnesses Baroness D’Souza, and Baroness Hayman, Former Lord Speakers; Lord Norton of Louth, and Lord Steel of Aikwood.
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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Lord Shinkwin (HOL0051)
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Earl John Sandwich (HOL0048)
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Alan Rayner (HOL0047)
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Other publications

No other publications published.

Contact us

  • Email: pacac@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 3268 (general enquiries) | 020 7219 8335 (media enquiries)
  • Address: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA