§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Lord President of the Council (1) why he will not introduce legislation to abolish or reform the House of Lords and, in the latter event, arrange for the House of Commons to nominate a certain percentage of the membership of the House of Lords on the basis that 3 per cent. to 4 per cent. of the membership shall be from ethnic groups from the New Commonwealth;
(2) why he will not introduce proposals to make the House of Lords representative of the various ethnic groups of the existing and multi-racial population of Great Britain.
§ Mr. FootThe Government are continuing to keep under review the general question of the role of the House of Lords, including its membership and functions. It would be inappropriate to put forward specific proposals for changes in the present membership of that House without reference to the wider issues.