Research Briefing
House of Lords Reform 2010–15
This Note provides a summary of the proposals for reform of the House of Lords that were made during the 2010–15 parliament.
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Research Briefing
Principal Office Holders in the House of Lords
This Library Note provides a short overview of the role and functions of some of the key office holders in the House of Lords.
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Research Briefing
Retirement from the House of Lords
This Note discusses the development of retirement provisions in the House of Lords, and considers additional proposals put forward by forums such as that have been raised by the Leader’s Group on Member’s Leaving the House and the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee (for example, the possibility of introducing a compulsory retirement age). The Note also contains brief analysis and information on the eight Members that have taken voluntary retirement so far.
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Research Briefing
Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill (HL Bill 87 of 2014–15)
The Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill would introduce time limited provisions to enable female diocesan bishops to be fast-tracked into the House of Lords as members of the Lords Spiritual. This Library Note provides a brief summary of the process by which English diocesan bishops are appointed to the House of Lords. It then discusses the provisions of the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill and the Bill’s House of Commons Stages.
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Research Briefing
Size of the House of Lords
As at 16 December 2014, the total membership of the House of Lords was 847. However, excluding those currently ineligible to sit (such as members on leave of absence or those holding particular posts), the ‘actual’ membership was 791. The average attendance of the House of Lords in the 2013–14 session was 497.
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Research Briefing
Membership of the House of Lords: Ethnicity, Religion and Disability
Members of the House of Lords are not required to provide information about their ethnicity, religious beliefs or any disabilities they may have. However, there is continued interest in the representativeness of the House, as currently composed. This Library Note provides background information on this subject: it summarises existing research on the representation in the House of Lords of minority ethnic groups, religions and disability, and sets out some of the challenges in collecting and interpreting this information.
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Research Briefing
Hereditary Peers in the House of Lords: 1999 to 2014
The House of Lords Act 1999 ended the centuries-old linkage between the hereditary peerage and membership of the House of Lords. The majority of hereditary Peers left the House of Lords in November 1999, but under a compromise arrangement, 92 of their number, known as ‘excepted’ hereditary Peers still sit in the House today.
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Research Briefing
House of Lords Reform (No 2) Bill (HL Bill 92 of 2013–14)
The House of Lords Reform (No 2) Bill is a private members’ bill, which was introduced into the House of Commons on 19 June 2013. The Bill makes provision for retirement from the House of Lords, and for the expulsion of Members of the House of Lords in specified circumstances.
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Research Briefing
Regional Representation in the House of Lords
This Library Note provides statistics relating to the regions of the UK with which current Members of the House of Lords have connections.
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Research Briefing
Debate on 12 December: Reducing the Size of the House of Lords
This Library Note provides background reading for the debate to be held on Thursday, 12 December 2013 to take note of the case for reducing the size of the House of Lords.
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Research Briefing
House of Lords: Profile of Membership
This Library Note provides background information about the age, membership and public positions held by Members of the House of Lords.
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Research Briefing
Maiden Speeches
This House of Lords Library Note provides the text of selected recent maiden speeches to illustrate the range of styles and subjects covered by new Members in their first contribution in the Chamber.
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Research Briefing
Extension of Franchise (House of Lords) Bill [HL]
This Library Note provides background information on the disqualification of Peers from voting at elections to the House of Commons, in anticipation of the second reading of Lord Dubs’ Private Member’s Bill on this issue on 5 July.
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Research Briefing
House of Lords: Reform of Working Practices, 2000-2012
This Library Note summarises significant proposals to change working practices and procedures in the House of Lords.
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Research Briefing
Public Attitudes Towards the House of Lords and House of Lords Reform
This Library Note provides information on public attitudes towards the House of Lords, and reform of the House, using the findings of various opinion polls.
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