§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
To what extent they believe that the composition of the national legislature should reflect the will of the people in a representative democracy; and to what extent they consider the will of the people to be paramount in determining the composition of the United Kingdom Parliament. [HL394]
§ Lord Williams of MostynWe believe that the most essential requirement in a democracy is that the will of the people should determine who will form the Government. In the United Kingdom's parliamentary democracy, that is done through elections to the House of Commons, whose Members a re the representatives of the people, and whose support the Government must receive if they are to continue in office. The Government believe that the composition of the United Kingdom Parliament must never be allowed to obscure or undermine that fundamental relationship.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What they understand by the term "representative democracy" in the context of both Houses of Parliament. [HL395]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe United Kingdom as a whole is a democracy and the composition of Parliament as a whole must respect that. The Government believe that this is best achieved by allowing the voice of the people to be clearly heard in the choice of the Government.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn) on 3 July (WA36) that the "necessary institutions and safeguards of a mature democracy extend well beyond those circumstances where it is appropriate for the will of the people to be paramount on every occasion and issues", on what occasions and issues they consider the will of the people to be paramount in Great Britain; and whether this extends to the composition of the national legislature. [HL397]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe United Kingdom's parliamentary democracy requires most importantly the will of the people to be paramount in the selection of the Government.