§ Norman LambTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will bring forward proposals to exclude convicted criminals from membership of the House of Lords. [121563]
§ Mr. Leslie[holding answer 24 June 2003]: The Government recognise that there is a difference between the treatment of Members of the House of Commons, who lose their seats if convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months' imprisonment, and that of Members of the House of Lords, who remain free to return to that House on completion of their sentence. In its White Paper "The House of Lords: Completing the Reform" (Cm 5291) it proposed bringing the arrangements for the two Houses in to line in due course.