Lords celebrates Women's History Month

Members of the House of Lords work for you. As part of the second chamber of Parliament, they bring a variety of experience and knowledge to help shape laws and challenge government action. Read on to find out more about female members and the work of the House.

Debate

On Thursday 11 March, the House debated the UK’s role in empowering women in the recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Members raised topics including violence against women, women's employment and mental health. Read more about this year's International Women's Day debate.

Daily questions to government

Members frequently push for government action on the equal rights and wellbeing of women in Lords questions. Questions take place at the start of business every sitting day, Monday to Thursday. Discover what’s on the agenda during Women’s History Month. 

Monday 8 March

• Baroness Gale (Labour) quizzes government on steps to increase the number of women holding elected office in the United Kingdom. Read a transcript.
• Baroness Donaghy (Labour) asks the government for its assessment of the TUC report ‘Working mums: Paying the price’. Read a transcript.

Tuesday 9 March

• Baroness Nye (Labour) questions the government on increasing women’s equality globally. Read a transcript.

Wednesday 10 March

• Baroness Wilcox of Newport (Labour) presses the government to ensure that women, and groups which represent women, are included in the development of their policies responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read a transcript.

Monday 15 March

• Baroness Eaton (Conservative) questions the government’s response to recent official statistics which found increased levels of self-harm among women prisoners. Read a transcript.

Raising awareness

Last year, members exposed the issue of gender segregation in publicly funded apprenticeships, called for action in addressing gender pay gaps, asked the government to support the protection of women and girls overseas from gender based violence, and pushed for government support of female targeted initiatives such as ‘This Girl Can’.

Watch the debates on Parliament TV

• Gender segregation in apprenticeships
• Gender pay gap
• ‘This Girl Can’

Shaping laws

The Domestic Abuse Bill, which aims to make provision in relation to domestic abuse, is currently being reviewed in the House of Lords.

Catch up with the progress of the bill

Pioneering Female Members

Baroness Wootton of Abinger became the first female life peer in 1958. She was an expert in sociology, criminology and penal reform.

Baroness Hayman became the first Lord Speaker in 2006. During her time as Lord Speaker, she developed the Peers in Schools programme, engaging young people with the House of Lords and its members.

Baroness Masham of Ilton is the longest serving female member of the House of Lords  She is an active member of the House of Lords and takes particular interest in issues surrounding disability, health and penal reform.

Baroness Warsi became the first Muslim woman to serve in the Cabinet and was the youngest member in the House of Lords when she joined in 2007.

Learn more about some of the pioneering female members of the House of Lords in this video.

Search for members of the House of Lords and find out about their background, topics of interest, work in Parliament and contact details.

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