Professor Lord Norton has very generously drawn attention to my exchanges with the Chairman of Committees this week. We haven’t previously had Secretary of State questions at all in the Lords because our sessions tend to be cross-departmental. Unlike the Commons, they each evoke a mini-debate with every party – and the Crossbenchers – making…
The House yesterday agreed a report from the Procedure Committee recommending that, if there is a Secretary of State in the House, then on one Thursday every month, when the House is sitting, 15 minutes should be set aside for three oral questions to the Secretary of State immediately following the existing 30 minutes for…
The Second Reading debate on the Equality Bill took place in the House yesterday. It is a large and complex Bill, with some contentious provisions. As a result, it was a long debate with more than forty speakers. The debate lasted until almost 11.00 p.m. There were many serious points raised. However, there was the…
From the moment I was elevated to the peerage, I was struck by the exclusion of my husband from the title that I would have and from some other privileges accorded to the wives of male peers sitting in the House. Titles and suchlike are trivial, and yet highly symbolic. For in this case the…
This is my first – and long overdue – posting on Lords of the Blog. Having read some of the recent contributions from colleagues across the House I can see what a fantastic place it is to spread the word about the House of Lords and all the interesting and important work that goes on…
It is usual, but not automatic, for former Cabinet ministers to be elevated to the Lords. Many who sit in the House are active contributors to the work of the House. Some have been drawn on to sit on the front benches, some chair select committees and many are regular contributors to debate. This week’s…
At Wednesday’s meeting of the Constitution Committee, we devoted most of our time to discussing a draft of our report on the Cabinet Office. However, we also approved a short report on the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Bill. This is a Private Member’s Bill which has Government support. The subject matter…
It has been a rather hectic week. I may join other bloggers in commenting on the issue of expenses, but it has not been at the forefront of my mind. This week, I have been dashing from meeting to meeting. I will be doing one or two posts about some of the meetings, not least the one…
Don’t take my word for it, read what the Lord Speaker had to say last night: “Ermine, Ethics and Engagement – Evolution in the House of Lords“ is a must for everyone who wants Parliament to do a better job of keeping the Government up to the mark. And in the process, we may be…
