House of Lords debates bill proposing changes to its membership
16 March 2020
Second reading, the main debate on the purpose and key areas, of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) (Abolition of By-Elections) Bill takes place on Friday 13 March.
This is a private member's bill. A private member's bill is a type of public bill (bills that affect all of us) which must go through the same set of procedures as other public bills.
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Lord Grocott (Labour), the bill's sponsor in the Lords, opens the debate.
Members discuss subjects including:
- the right of female hereditary peers to stand in by-elections
- proposals for a wholly or partly elected second chamber
- proposals to reduce the overall membership of the House of Lords
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, Earl Howe (Conservative), responds on behalf of the government.
Committee stage, the first chance for line by line examination, is yet to be scheduled.
Bill summary
This bill aims to amend the House of Lords Act 1999 so as to abolish the system of by-elections for hereditary peers.
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Image: Roger Harris /House of Lords 2020