House of Lords Reform

HC Deb 22 October 2002 vol 391 c184W

Mr. Lyons

To ask the President of the Council, if he will make a statement on House of Lords reform. [73626]

Mr. Bradshaw

The Government's objective remains to complete the reform process on which it embarked in 1997. Whether progress is possible and how fast is now a matter for Parliament itself to influence in the light of the forthcoming report of the Joint Committee of both Houses. The Government has said it will not seek to influence the Joint Committee's deliberations. We will decide how best to proceed in the light of the Joint Committee's views and the opinions of both Houses as expressed in free votes on the options defined by the Joint Committee.