§ Q14. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the present economic crisis and the expenditure involved in the Government's plans for reform of the House of Lords, he will now postpone his proposals for such reform.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. The expenditure involved arises almost exclusively from the proposal in paragraph 52 of the White Paper that voting peers should in future receive some remuneration (subject to tax) which would reflect the responsibiltiies and duties they would be expected to undertake. But no particular amount or method of remuneration has been suggested and it is intended that the question should be referred to an independent body similar to the Committee on the Remuneration of Ministers and Members of Parliament.