§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many hereditary issues have been referred to him since taking office. [32592]
§ Mr. WillsUnder the House of Lords Standing Order 10, made on 26 July 1999, the Clerk of the Parliaments maintains a register of hereditary peers, other than peers of Ireland, who wish to stand in any by-election held to fill vacancies occurring due to the death of any of the 90 elected hereditary peers expected from the provisions of the House of Lords Act 1999. House of Lords Standing Order 10A, made on 13 November 2000, requires any hereditary peer who has succeeded to a title since the making of the standing order to petition the House. These petitions are referred to the Lord Chancellor to consider and report on whether a peer has established the right to be included in the register.
Since the making of Standing Order 10A, the House of Lords has referred five such petitions to the Lord Chancellor relating to the Dukedom of Sutherland and to the Baronies of Aldington, Cawley, Combermere and Terrington.
The Lord Chancellor has, in addition, considered two claims in relation to Irish peerages: the Earldom of Roden and the Barony of Dunsany.