§ The Earl of Listowelasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the request made on 25 November (H.L. Deb., col. 97) for the commissioning of a business consultancy to report on the contribution of the active hereditary peers and to consider what effect their removal would have on the functioning of the House of Lords. [HL316]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe Government have always made it clear that they appreciate the contribution which individual hereditary peers can make to the work of the House of Lords. However, the Government are also clear that much of the work of the House is done by life peers, and that the House will continue to function perfectly well after the hereditary peers have left.