HL Deb 19 July 1999 vol 604 c79WA
Lord Patten

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Jay of Paddington on 24 June (WA 103), whether they consider that to put an upper age limit on membership of the House of Commons or of the House of Lords would be contrary to human rights. [HL3547]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

As I said on 7 June (WA 123), the Government have no plans to introduce an upper age limit for membership of the House of Commons. And as my right honourable friend the Leader of the House said in her previous Answer, the future composition of the House of Lords is currently being considered by a Royal Commission and the Government have taken no view on the question of an upper age limit for its members. The Government have not therefore sought legal advice on whether such limits would be in breach of the European Court of Human Rights.