13th Report - A smaller House of Lords: The report of the Lord Speaker's committee on the size of the House
- HC No.
- HC 662
- Published
- 19 Nov 2018
- Items
- 0
- Government response
- Government response published 5 March 2019. Read the government's response ↗
Select committee: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Report of the Lord Speaker’s committee on the size of the House inquiry
Closed
Opened 7 Dec 2017
Closed 7 Dec 2017
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee examines the proposals put forward by the Lord Speaker's Committee to reduce the number of members of the House of Lords. Report published A smaller House of Lords: The report of the Lord Speaker's committee on the size of the House [HTML] A smaller House of Lords: The report of the Lord Speaker's committee on the size of the House [PDF 462 KB] Government Response published Government Response and Correspondence from Chair to Chloe Smith MP, Minister for the Constitution Government Response and Correspondence from Chair to Chloe Smith MP, Minister for the Constitution [PDF 182KB]
Where it stands
The inquiry is closed, opened 7 December 2017.
The committee has published 1 report, most recently 13th Report - A smaller House of Lords: The report of the Lord Speaker's committee on the size of the House on 19 November 2018.
The government's response
Published 5 March 2019.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government agrees that the objectives of the Lord Speaker's committee report to reduce the size of the House should be supported, but does not accept that the Prime Minister must commit to a specific cap or appointment formula, and says comprehensive reform is not a priority for this Parliament.
- On the cap and appointments formula, the Government "does not however accept" that the Prime Minister must commit to a specific cap or limit appointments in line with the formula, saying such changes need "careful consideration and wider engagement".
- It says a combination of restraint over future appointments and sustained efforts from all parties to increase retirements will be "the most effective short-term approach". The Prime Minister has committed to allocating appointments fairly, bearing in mind the last general election results and each party's leadership on retirements.
- On the Cabinet Manual, the Government says the Prime Minister's commitment "speaks for itself" and that the Manual "is not intended to be the source of any rule or to set out the specific commitments of a particular Government".
- On transparency and diversity, the Government "will work with" the House of Lords Appointments Commission "to consider its future role and functions". The minister's letter sets out no detailed process or timescale.
Reports
- 13th Report - A smaller House of Lords: The report of the Lord Speaker's committee on the size of the House19 November 2018
Evidence
- 1 oral evidence sessionLatest 30 January 2018
Recent activity
- 12th Special Report - Government Response to the Committee’s Thirteenth report: A smaller House of Lords: The report of the Lord Speaker’s committee on the size of the House5 March 2019, Report published
- 13th Report - A smaller House of Lords: The report of the Lord Speaker's committee on the size of the House19 November 2018, Report published
- Oral evidence session30 January 2018, Oral evidence
Reports
Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Jan 2018 |
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded
|
View ↗ |