Downing Street Says » House of Lords reform

Asked about the timetable, the Leader said that he hoped the White Paper, which was subject to the normal clearance procedures, would be published by the end of November, followed by a free vote. This would take place either side of the New Year. Pressed to say how he interpreted the Prime Minister’s comments to peers, Mr Straw said that both he and the Prime Minister were in the same position: his initial preference had been for an all-appointed House. Since the last attempt in 2003 to achieved consensus had not worked, there had been further reports. The Prime Minister was fully behind the manifesto pledge to work for a long-term solution. Whether it was removing the remaining hereditaries and other issues, it was much better to achieve a solution through consensus. That was the aim. The Leader said it was the basis of the cross-party talks currently taking place and his discussions with colleagues of all parties in the Lords. The Government was going through a very deliberative process. The forthcoming report of the Joint Committee and the White Paper were aimed at trying to achieve a consensus. In addition, the Leader said that no-one had any wish to invoke the Parliament Act to get the reform through.

Put to him that he had told peers last week that, if consensus was not possible, the aim was to try to achieve it in the Commons and then be prepared to use the Parliament Act, Mr Straw said he would not disclose details of a private meeting. The position was as he had described it. He wanted to achieve a consensus and avoid the use of the Parliament Act. The Leader said that, while he did not know what the Joint Committee would say in its report, the Government’s response to it would be contained in the White Paper. It would not be done separately since the issue of powers of the Upper House and composition of it were part of the same whole. The Leader pointed out that the committee, chaired by Lord Cunningham, was all-party. There was no way that he, as Leader, could prejudge what the Government’s response would be. Asked if there would be a Government preferred option, he said he had already made it clear that that was a possibility. The Government had to present its response to the committee. It was up to Parliament to give its response.

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» Thursday, October 26, 2006

House of Lords reform

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