Lords debates core functions of the House of Lords
2 November 2012
In light of the government’s decision not to proceed with the House of Lords Reform Bill, members of the Lords debated options for making better use of the skills and experience of members in scrutinising legislation, holding the government to account and providing a forum for public debate yesterday (Thursday 1 November).
- Catch up on Parliament TV
- Read the debate transcript in Lords Hansard
- House of Lords: Reform of Working Practices, 2000-2012 - Lords Library Note
Lord Filkin (Labour) who tabled the debate, opened it by saying: ‘We know now that fundamental change to the composition of the House is off the agenda, at least for the immediate future... That therefore increases the necessity of looking at our processes to see whether we can improve them.’
Lord Strathclyde (Conservative) responded on behalf of the government.
Other speakers who took part in the debate included:
- Lord Goodlad (Conservative), former chairman of the Leader's Group on the Working Practices of the House of Lords
- Baroness Hayman (Crossbench), former Lord Speaker
- Lord Hunt of Kingsheath (Labour), shadow deputy leader of the House of Lords
- Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope (Liberal Democrat), chairman of the Information Committee