HL Deb 17 March 1971 vol 316 cc435-6
LORD RATHCAVAN

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is their intention to promote legislation to enable Peers to vote at Elections for Members of the House of Commons.]

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (EARL JELLICOE)

My Lords, the Government have no plans at present for such legislation.

LORD RATHCAVAN

My Lords, arising out of that reply, may I ask whether my noble friend is aware that so far as I can ascertain this is the only Second Chamber in the world whose Members are not entitled to vote at Elections for Members of the Lower Chamber? Secondly, is he further aware that in the proposals for House of Lords Reform last year, subsequently dropped, there was a clause giving Peers the right to vote at Elections?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I think that I can with truth reply in the affirmative to both my noble friend's supplementary questions.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that under the present law only lunatics, criminals and Peers cannot vote; and does he not think that we ought to occupy a better and more dignified position than that?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I am also aware of that.

VISCOUNT MONCK

My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that there is also a third class—lunatics?