What the Lords and Its Members Do

Playing a vital role in making laws Investigating public policy Checking government action

2 | House of Lords House of Lords | 1

The House of Lords Asking government to is part of the UK Making laws think again Parliament in London

public policy The House of Lords is Investigating the second chamber of Parliament.

It is independent from, and

complements the work of, the Parliament is ? “ the heart of our “ elected House of Commons democracy. It is – they share responsibility the meeting place Questioning for the House of and debating for making laws and checking Commons and the government action. House of Lords. 2 | House of Lords House of Lords | 3

Checking bills and making better laws The House of Lords spends most of its time in the chamber checking bills The Lords plays an essential role in improving the Differences in the House of Lords content of bills (draft laws): highlighting potential Most bills are brought to Parliament by the problems and ensuring they will be workable laws. government and most of the MPs in the House of Commons belong to the party or parties of How a bill becomes a law 2010/11 400 All bills must be approved by the House of Lords government, so the government usually wins votes hours 610 and the House of Commons to become law. A bill on bills in the Commons. Fewer than half the examining bills goes through these steps in each House: members of the House of Lords belong to the changes made government parties. This is because many members First Reading don’t belong to a political party; the crossbenchers 2,499 1 Bill is introduced (no debate) and bishops. changes considered Second Reading There are also important differences between the 47 2 Debate on main principles Houses in how they carry out some of the steps 13 (left) in checking a bill. In the Lords, at: bills checked bills Committee Stage • committee stage, there is no selection of made law C Line by line examination amendments: all can be considered • committee stage, debate on amendments Report Stage is not time limited R Further examination • third reading, ‘tidying up’ amendments can be made. Third Reading Value of the House of Lords 3 Final debate The lack of a government majority, the more relaxed party discipline, and the fact that the CA Consideration of Amendments (or ‘ping pong’) House’s procedures give members great freedom Each House considers the other’s changes to propose and debate amendments, mean that the Lords sometimes reaches different conclusions on Royal Assent (Law) bills, and agrees amendments asking the Commons RA When they agree the final content, a bill gets and the government to ‘think again’. Royal Assent and is made law 4 | House of Lords House of Lords | 5

Wide-ranging committee Questioning government action, seeking investigations into public policy information and debating current issues

Committee work is a way for the House to Another important function of the House of investigate public policy and government activity Lords is to hold government to account. in detail. The experience of the House’s • Questions are asked in the chamber at 2010/11 membership is an especially useful resource in 39 the start of business. They are also asked in carrying out this work. reports writing.They are a chance to seek information about government decisions and actions. Committees are smaller groups of members made by the five main • The government makes statements to the that meet away from the chamber, regularly committees in 2010/11 House about developments and emergencies, meeting people, organisations and government or to report back after international meetings. representatives during their investigations. They They provide valuable time for members to investigate broad, long-term issues and produce ask questions and probe government activity. in-depth reports on their findings. The reports 7,546 73 • Debates take place on public policy and on are debated by the House in the chamber and questions debates The permanent five specialist issues. They are an opportunity to often provoke discussion outside Parliament. The asked held committees examine draw the government’s attention to concerns. government always responds to House of Lords these subjects: reports, which the committee follows up. • the constitution “ • communications • economic affairs ? “ • the European Union • science and technology. 6 | House of Lords House of Lords | 7

Breadth of knowledge and independence of thought

Members of the House of Lords come from different backgrounds and professions.

Many remain active in their careers and are experts in their fields – the House draws on this professional experience in its examination of legislation and government, and to carry out its investigative committee work. 8 | House of Lords House of Lords | 9

medicine

Diversity and breadth of knowledge business Most members have a political background, some the arts don’t. All come from different walks of life, from across the UK, and represent a wide range of professions – in medicine, law, business, the arts, 429 science Members by party or group 2010/11 science, sports, education, the armed forces, Average daily diplomacy and public service. Labour attendance academia Conservative Independence of thought health The House of Lords is characterised by independence of thought: Crossbench politics • members who belong to the political parties are not subject to the same degree of discipline diplomacy as in the House of Commons – they do not necessarily vote according to their party’s policy law • a significant part of the membership is non-party political: the crossbenchers and the bishops Liberal Democrat • members of the House of Lords represent The unit which defines the issues that concern them, not geographical Members of the House of Lords Parliament’s work is a session. constituencies. are appointed by the Queen It varies in length but, whether on the advice of the Prime calculated by session, calendar Minister. Some non-party political Bishops or financial year, the working members are recommended by year averages around 150 the House of Lords Appointments sitting days. The statistics in Commission, an independent body House of Lords membership figures are not fixed. There are approximately 800 members. This graph indicates proportions this booklet relate to the (www.lordsappointments.gov.uk). of the parties and groups (as at 31 March 2011). 2010/11 financial year. 10 10 | | House House ofof LordsLords House of Lords | 11

People Organisation

Leader of Lord Clerk of the Black Rod the House Speaker Parliaments of Lords

Leader of the House of Lords Clerk of the Parliaments How the business of the House is run The Leader of the House is a member of the The Clerk of the Parliaments is the most senior The government and the main opposition party Cabinet and the most senior member of the official in the Lords, he employs the staff and is or parties each have a leader, business managers government in the Lords, responsible for its responsible for its management, administration (‘whips’) who organise the work of the House business in the House. He leads a team of about and finances. He also has responsibilities in the and spokespeople who sit on the frontbench. The 25 ministers and whips. The Leader also has chamber during business. crossbenchers have a Convenor. obligations to the House as a whole: expressing its collective feelings on formal occasions and Black Rod The administration giving procedural advice, e.g. in disputes over Black Rod is responsible for security, controlling The administration supports the whole House in who will speak next during questions. access to and maintaining order within the carrying out its duties. It is responsible for advising House and its precincts. He also has important on parliamentary procedure and is politically Lord Speaker ceremonial duties. impartial. It also performs a range of everyday The Lord Speaker presides over business in the corporate functions, from finance and catering to chamber. The House of Lords is self-regulating property management and security. so, unlike the Commons’ Speaker, the Lord Speaker does not call the House to order or Decisions about how the House operates are made choose who will speak next. The Lord Speaker by groups of members or staff with responsibility for is elected by the House and is politically these issues. impartial. 12 | House of Lords House of Lords | 13

Reaching out Lords online Find out more about the House Members connect with of Lords through a range of new audiences and open The House of Lords outreach programme multimedia and online resources up new ways of explaining encourages members to meet with and hear that complement our website, the work of the House. from individuals and groups from every part of the UK, with activities including: including: • sending members into schools to talk to • Facebook and Twitter activities and answer questions from GCSE and sixth- • House of Lords photo and video content form students about the work of the House available from Flickr and YouTube • welcoming groups to the House for events • Lords of the Blog (lordsoftheblog.net) – and tours hear firsthand about life and work in the • hosting an annual event for young people to House from its members debate in the chamber. Members have visited over 500 schools. Register your school in the Peers in Schools programme, email: [email protected]. Find out more about our initiatives from www.parliament.uk/lords Parliament’s Education Service offers resources Members of the Lords reach out and opportunities for teachers and students. Members play an active ambassadorial role in Go to: www.parliament.uk/education building an understanding of the House and its Parliament’s Outreach Service delivers free membership as part of their contribution to training and shows how you can get involved parliamentary life. with parliamentary processes. Visit: www.parliament.uk/outreach

Find out more

The House of Lords Information Office

020 7219 3107

[email protected]

House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW

www.parliament.uk/lords

@UKHouseofLords

For video and audio coverage go to: www.parliamentlive.tv