HL Deb 08 February 2000 vol 609 cc79-80WA
The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the statement by the Leader of the House that "detailed provisions may be reached in conjunction with other political parties and procedures for achieving the next stage of change" (H.L. Deb., 24 January, col. 1318), what mechanisms they intend to put in place to implement this form of consultation about Stage Two of House of Lords reform with other political parties. [HL806]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

We shall need to look at the most suitable mechanisms in the light of the overall responses to the Royal Commission's report. The House will of course have an opportunity to debate it.

The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the statement by the Leader of the House that "detailed provisions may be reached in conjunction with other political parties and procedures for achieving the next stage of change" (H.L. Deb., 24 January, col. 1318), whether the term "other political parties" is intended to include the Cross-Bench Lords in the House of Lords. [HL807]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

Yes.

The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in relation to House of Lords reform, the statement by the Leader of the House of Lords that "the Joint Committee would be established in order to consider the parliamentary aspects of any reform" (H.L. Deb., 24 January, cols. 1318–1322) is consistent with the commitment in the Labour Party's general election manifesto that "A committee of both Houses of Parliament will be appointed to undertake a wide-ranging review of possible further change and then bring forward proposals for reform". [HL809]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

We made clear in our White PaperModernising Parliament Reforming the House of Lords (Cm. 4183) that the Royal Commission built on the proposal in the Manifesto. Both were aimed at ensuring that there was a wide-ranging debate before any proposals for further reform were formulated.

The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the replies by the Leader of the House on 24 January (H.L. Debs. 1318–1322), whether the Labour Party's general election manifesto has now been superseded by the White Paper on House of Lords Reform. [HL808]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

The White PaperModernising Parliament Reforming the House of Lords (Cm. 4183) built on the Labour Party's Manifesto. It made clear that the reasons for the decision to appoint a Royal Commission were twofold. First, it would allow an open and transparent deliberative process involving full and wide debate of all the issues. Second, it could begin work immediately, without having to wait for the completion of the first stage of reform. In those circumstances, the precise role of the proposed Joint Committee has also been refined.