Work of the House of Lords
The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK Parliament. It is independent from, and complements the work of, the elected House of Commons. The Lords shares the task of making and shaping laws and checking and challenging the work of the government.
Read on for more highlights from the Lords and information on how the House works.
Highlights from the House of Lords
Examples from the House of Lords' work to check and challenge government, and scrutinise legislation.
40 years of broadcasting from the House of Lords
2025 marks the 40th anniversary of TV cameras broadcasting from the House of Lords chamber. Proceedings were televised on BBC1 and BBC2 for the first time on 23 January 1985 and footage is now available to watch online on the House of Lords YouTube channel
23 January 2025
Lord debates impact of retail crime
Members discuss consequences of shop theft on workers, the community and local economies. Catch up
06 December 2024
Housing supply and homelessness debated by Lords
On Thursday 5 December, members of the House of Lords debated increasing housing supply and tackling homelessness. Catch up
06 December 2024
Highlights from the 2023-24 session in the House of Lords
Look back at highlights from the 2023-24 session in the Lords.
19 July 2024
Lord Speaker's Corner
Hear from members of the House of Lords about what inspires them in their work in and beyond Parliament
26 January 2024
Highlights from the 2022-23 session in the House of Lords
Catch up on highlights from a packed session in the Lords.
26 October 2023
Catch up on 2023 so far in the House of Lords
Catch up on a busy start to 2023 in the Lords, with questions to government, debates on key issues, plus checking and changing of draft laws
26 July 2023
Engage with the House of Lords
Learn more about engaging with the House of Lords to effectively raise an issue in Parliament
16 March 2023
2022 in the House of Lords
Catch up on a packed year in the Lords with 5,244 changes to 100 bills, plus questions and debates in over 3,350 hours of business.
19 December 2022
House of Lords Podcast: adult social care, and children and families
This month we speak to two members who have been leading investigations into improving adult social care and how the government has incompletely implemented the Children and Families Act.
08 December 2022
Latest from the Lords
Read latest news from the House of Lords
What's on in the Lords 24-27 February
Discover what's coming up in the House of Lords this week
21 February 2025
Lords to debate Post Office Horizon compensation scheme
Members discuss progress of payouts to victims and contribution of Fujitsu to compensating victims. Find out more
21 February 2025
Prenuptial agreements to be debated in the Lords
Members discuss current law on premarital contracts. Find out more
21 February 2025
What does the House of Lords do?
The House of Lords is made up of around 800 members from a variety of professions and walks of life
Making laws: House of Lords stages
Bills start in either the House of Lords or House of Commons. They go through set stages of approval in both Houses before they become an Act of Parliament
Checking and challenging government
The House of Lords plays an important role in checking and challenging the decisions and actions of the government through questions and debates
Lords select committees
The House of Lords committees investigate public policy, proposed laws and government activity
House of Lords Hansard
A report of all House of Lords business
The House of Lords Library
The House of Lords Library provides impartial research and information services to Members of the House of Lords, their staff and the staff of the House.