PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE: SELECT COMMITTEE (Hansard, 6 July 1976)

§ The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Lord Shepherd)
My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. This arises from a debate that we held on 11th March, and although there was no vote it was clear from views expressed that your Lordships' House felt that we ought to set up a Committee on the question of the practice and procedure of the House and Parliament in line with a similar course which is being taken in another place. I have waited until it was clear that the House of Commons were intending to proceed, which they now are, and I now ask the House to approve the Motion which will formally set up the Select Committee. The membership of course will be a matter for the Committee of Selection. I beg to move.
Moved, That it is desirable that a Select Committee be appointed to consider the practice and procedure of the House and to make recommendations for the more effective performance of its functions.—(Lord Shepherd.)

§ Lord CARRINGTON
My Lords, we on this side of the House have no objection to this Motion, though perhaps some of us think that there is less wrong with the practice and procedure of this House than the muddle that is made in the House of Commons of the Government time-table.

§ Lord SHEPHERD
My Lords, I hope the noble Lord will not be too provocative on this rather hot Tuesday afternoon. I take it from what he has said that he is giving me full support on the Motion that is before the House.

§ Lord SHINWELL
My Lords, as we are setting up a Select Committee to consider, inter alia, the effective performance of functions of your Lordships' House, may I ask whether that consideration will include the proposition made by the noble Lord, Lord Carrington, some time ago that we might consider a reduction in the number of hereditary Peers? May 1 also ask whether the subject of House of Lords reform, however modified the proposals might be, is a matter that could be considered by this Committee?

§ Lord SHEPHERD
My Lords, when the debate took place in another place—and I speak now with the permission of the House because this is not a Committee stage, but I am trying to be helpful to the House—the Government made it clear that in their view the question of the reform of your Lordships' House and the relationship between the two Houses, as such, was not to be a matter for the Commons Committee. I would take the view that if that restraint is being shown by another place, we should ourselves respond to it. Although your Lordships' House is very free on its rules of procedure and the way in which we discuss matters, I would hope that the Committee would follow suit and act in accordance with the House of Commons, and that we should seek ways and means of improving the procedure of the two Houses and the procedure of your Lordships' House. Having said that, I would not wish this Committee in any way to interpose on our normal Procedure Committee, which plays a very useful part and a Report of which we shall be considering tomorrow.