Call for Evidence

A copy of the draft Bill and the accompanying description of the proposals and explanatory notes as published as Command Paper 8077.

Written evidence is invited on the terms of the White Paper and draft Bill, including but not limited to:

• How the draft Bill fulfils its objects;
• The effect of the Bill on the powers of the House of Lords and the existing conventions governing the relationship between the Lords and the Commons;
• The role and functions of a reformed House;
• The means of ensuring continued primacy of the House of Commons under any new arrangements;
• The size of the proposed House and the ratio of elected to non-elected Members (the draft Bill gives options);
• A statutory appointments commission;
• The electoral term, retirement etc;
• The electoral system preferred (the draft Bill gives options);
• Transitional arrangements (the draft Bill gives options);
• The provisions on Bishops, Ministers and hereditary peers;
• Other administrative matters like pay and pensions;
• Relevant comparisons with other bi-cameral parliaments; and 
• Anything else relevant to the introduction of a largely elected House (e.g. name of a reformed House, referendum, applicability of the Parliament Acts etc.).

Evidence should be sent in hard copy on A4 paper to: The Clerk, Joint Committee on the draft House of Lords Reform Bill, Journal Office, House of Commons, London, SW1 0AA and as a Word document (electronically) to: draftlordsreformbill@parliament.uk preferably by 12 October.