Procedures in the Lords are different to those in the Commons, not least in term of the rules governing votes. For example, if an MP votes in both lobbies during a division, his or her name is shown in the division list as being in both lobbies. Voting in both lobbies has become a way for MPs to show that they…
The volume of correspondence received in the Palace of Westminster continues to decline. Each year, I table a question to find out how many items of correspondence were received in the Palace of Westminster in the previous year. I have just received the figures for 2013. Last year, 2,490,256 items were received, excluding parcels, courier…
After Parliament has passed a Bill, it receives Royal Assent and becomes an Act of Parliament. Provisions of an Act take effect upon Royal Assent unless provided otherwise. In practice, it is common to provide otherwise, with ministers being empowered by order to make commencement orders, stipulating the date on which the provisions, or particular…
Each year, a question is usually tabled to find out the annual total costs, and the cost per member, of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the European Parliament. At the end of last month, the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury gave the costs as follows: HOUSE OF COMMONS Annual cost: £392m…
I penned an earlier post on the procedure for Third Reading in the Lords in response to clear interest shown in it during passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. Many people outside the House appeared unaware of how we differed from the Commons. The passage of the Bill also prompts comment on when its…
