§ 39. Kali Mountford (Colne Valley)What representations she has received on progress made by the royal commission on reform of the House of Lords. [83448]
§ The President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mrs. Margaret Beckett)I have had no representations on progress, but I understand that the royal commission has received more than 500 written submissions concerning the long-term reform of the House of Lords, from members of the public, Members of Parliament, peers, academics and a range of organisations.
§ Kali MountfordThe second Chamber plays an important role in scrutiny, and I hope that it will continue 638 to do so, but not in opposition to this House. I notice that the Conservative party has made a submission containing two contradictory options. Can my right hon. Friend assure us that the royal commission will ensure that narrow party interests are not uppermost in its mind, and that an in-built majority will not be maintained in that Chamber in opposition to this one?
§ Mrs. BeckettI share my hon. Friend's view that this House should be the prime House in the legislature. That is clearly the steer that the royal commission has been given. I am aware that the Conservative party has made two different, and to some extent contradictory, proposals, but that is becoming so much par for the course that I am not entirely surprised by it. I certainly strongly share the view that the matter should not be governed by narrow party interests. That is why the Government have said consistently that we do not believe that any one party should have an in-built majority in the House of Lords. To the best of my recollection, I have yet to hear that view echoed by Conservative Members.
§ Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex)In view of the ill-judged and unsatisfactory manner in which the Government are conducting their programme of reform of the upper House, does the President of the Council agree that the work with which the royal commission has been charged is extremely onerous and may well lead to its requiring longer to come to a proper, sensible and detailed conclusion, especially as it has received so many important and weighty submissions? Will she assure me that, if the royal commission requires more time to do its work, that time will be forthcoming?
§ Mrs. BeckettI am sorry to hear that the hon. Gentleman thinks that the proposal for reform of the House of Lords is either ill-judged or unsatisfactory. As there is every chance that it will reach the statute book, it seems to me that it will have appeared satisfactory to most people in the country. I share the view that the royal commission's work is important and, in its way, onerous. Should it come to the view that it needs a little more time than the Government originally allotted, it will no doubt make that known. I gently remind the hon. Gentleman that when the royal commission was set up, Conservative Members were desperately anxious that it should report as speedily as possible, so that the proposals could be considered as soon as possible.