HC Deb 26 July 1999 vol 336 cc44-5W
50. Shona McIsaac

To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on progress on proposals for the reform of the House of Lords. [91388]

51. Dr. Iddon

To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on progress on proposals for the reform of the House of Lords. [91389]

Mrs. Beckett

The Royal Commission on the reform of the House of Lords issued a consultation document in March of this year and I understand that, in response, it has received over 1,300 written submissions concerning the long-term reform of the House of Lords from members of the public, MPs, peers, academics and a range of organisations.

The Commission is keen to secure the widest possible range of views on the issues raised by its terms of reference and it has organised a series of public meetings throughout the UK to enable it to probe and test the written evidence it has received and to hear the views of members of the general public. The final meeting will be in London on 27 July.

There is no reason to believe that the Royal Commission will not report on schedule by the end of this year.