§ 47. Wing Commander Hulbertasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the reform of the House of Lords.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I cannot at present add to the statement made by my noble Friend the Lord President of the Council in another place on 25th January in reply to a similar inquiry—that Her Majesty's Government are actively examining this difficult and important subject.
§ Mr. E. L. MallalieuIs the Prime Minister aware that while many of us, especially on this side, regard the Second Chamber—it having no power but considerable influence—as being by no means a bad Second Chamber, there would be very considerable opposition 1734 were Her Majesty's Government to propose any increase in the powers of that Chamber?
§ The Prime MinisterThe most relevant point in the statement of my noble friend the Lord President is:
… clearly it would be very much better, if there is to be a reform of this House, that it should be by agreement. We should all of us agree that any great constitutional change, or modified constitutional change, is better done with inter-Party agreement than without, and I still hope that that may prove possible. In the meantime, I can say tonight that we shall continue to labour at perfecting the details of the scheme for reform."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, House of Lords, 25th January, 1955; Vol. 190, c. 717.]
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that that is a very helpful suggestion.
§ Wing Commander HulbertMay I ask my right hon. Friend when he anticipates being in a position to make a statement?
§ The Prime MinisterThe future is veiled in obscurity.