HL Deb 19 November 1991 vol 532 cc62-4WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many times during this Parliament they have been defeated in the Lobbies in this House, and on how many occasions the effect of the defeat was:

  1. (a) reversed at a later stage
  2. (b) partly reversed
  3. (c) allowed to stand.

The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Waddington)

This information is not readily available in the form requested. Whether a defeat has been partly reversed or allowed substantially to stand is often a matter for the judgment of those involved. I can, however, draw the noble Lord's attention to the Answer provided to a Question on 6th November 1989 (HL Deb, vol. 512, col. 534), which gives information on disagreements between the Houses in the parliamentary sessions from 1974 to 1989. Similar information for sessions 1989–90 and 1990–91 is as follows:

Session No. of Govt. Defeats
1989–90 20
1990–91 17

Session Bill Nature of disagreement
1989–90 Broadcasting 1 defeat, reversed in the HC Not insisted on
Coal Industry 1 defeat, reversed in the HC Not insisted on
Courts and Legal Services 2 defeats 1 accepted in the HC, 1 reversed in the HC and not insisted on
Education (Student Loans) 3 defeats 2 reversed in the HC and not insisted on, 1 amendment in lieu proposed by the HC and accepted by the HL
Environmental Protection 2 defeats 1 reversed in the HC and not insisted on. In the other case, amdts in lieu were proposed by the HC and accepted by the HL
Food Safety 1 defeat, reversed in the HC Not insisted on
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) 1 defeat, reversed in the HC Not insisted on
National Health Service and Community Care 4 defeats, reversed in the HC Not insisted on
Social Security 4 defeats, reversed in the HC Not insisted on
War Crimes Motion for Second Reading defeated Bill passed under the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 in Session 1990–91
1990–91 British Technology Group 1 defeat Not reversed in the HC
Child Support 1 defeat HC amdt in lieu accepted by the HL
Criminal Justice 3 defeats 2 reversed in the HC and not insisted on. In the other case, HC amdts in lieu were agreed to but with 4 further Government defeats on amdts to those HC amdts. These 4 Government defeats were subsequently reversed by the HC and not insisted on by the HL
Disability Living Allowance and Disability Working Allowance 1 defeat Reversed in the HC and not insisted on
Natural Heritage (Scotland) 3 defeats HC amdts in lieu accepted by the HL
Statutory Sick Pay 3 defeats 1 reversed by the HC and not insisted on.

1 not reversed.

1 agreed to by the HC with amdts
War Crimes Defeat on Motion for Second Reading Bill passed under the Parliament Acts