Powers of Lords

• The House of Lords does not have the power of vetoing legislation. They can only delay them for 1 year
• Which Act limited the House of Lords power to only delay?

  Parliament Act 1911
• Why was the 1911 Parliament Act introduced?


  The Lords rejected the people's budget proposed by the Liberal Government. They were able to do this as the Conservatives had a majority in the House of Lords. Prime Minister Lloyd George believed that this broke the convention. The Liberal Party had fought 2 elections in 1910. Therefore, the government made it into law.
• What did the 1949 Parliament Act do?


  Reduced the power of delay to 1 year
• Why was the 1949 Parliament Act Introduced?


  The Lords broke the Salisbury convention by trying to delay Labour's legislation to nationalise many privatised industries (one of their pledges in the Manifesto)
• What is the Salisbury Convention?


  Convention that the House of Lords will not oppose legislation promised in the governing party's election manifesto.
• The Lords do not have the power to dismiss the government
• When is the only time the Lords can veto a bill?

  If the aim of a bill is to extend the life of a parliament beyond 5 years
• What is a parliamentary ping-pong?


  Process of a bill being passed back and forth between the House of Commons and the House of Lords in the UK Parliament until an agreement is reached. They may be passed back and forth if the commons do not accept amendments or if it amends the bill further
• Example of a parliamentary ping pong?

  2005 Prevention of Terrorism Act

  After 7/7, New Labour wanted to introduce internment for 90 days. They had to settle for 28 days so it could be passed
• One way the Lords can scrutinise the government (the executive) is by asking questions to a government spokesperson
• The lords may hold debates on specific issues and a government minister responds to the matters raised
• In January 2024, a debate on the current situation in Ukraine was held in the Lords. Experts in Defence were present including

  • The former chair of the British Ukrainian Society
  • Former Secretary General of NATO
• Who recommends people for non political cross bench peerages?


  House of Lords Appointments Commission
• There is a lot of expertise in the Lords. Large numbers of lawyers, business people, financiers and academics
• There are smaller numbers of architects, engineers, transport experts, teachers and scientists
• Peers with a background in manual trades are rare
• What is the average age of a peer in the Lords?

  69
• A limitation of peers' expertise is that many have busy careers meaning they do not have time to attend any sessions in the House of Lords
• An example of a non-working peer?


  Lord Sugar
• Example of a peer who represents a particular underrepresented group?

  Tanni Grey Thompson - Former Paralympian who has been heavily critical of the government's disability benefit reforms
• Example of a significant House of Lords sessional committee (regarding legislative process)

  The Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee
• The House of Commons has limited time to examine secondary legislation, so the House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee plays a valuable role in highlighting when statutory instruments are so badly worded or poorly drawn up that they may not achieve their purpose.
• Example of sessional House of Lords committee scrutiny

  The sessional House of Lords committee on the environment and climate change has held government accountable for not achieving its carbon reduction targets. It also launched an inquiry into how the public can contribute to resolving the challenge of climate change
• What are the three permanent and regular join Lords and Commons committees?

  Human Rights

  National Security Strategy

  Statutory Instruments