My Lords, I have said that the procedure is the same as for all Bills. In other words, all Members, if they are so minded, have the right to put down amendments to Bills. The timetable is speeded up considerably. I cannot assist the House much more on this subject....

My Lords, I have said that the procedure is the same as for all Bills. In other words, all Members, if they are so minded, have the right to put down amendments to Bills. The timetable is speeded up considerably. I cannot assist the House much more on this subject....

I would argue that we have kept up the momentum. It is essential that this House is able to deal with disciplinary issues effectively. Last year, the Privileges Committee concluded that this House did not have the powers it needed to expel Peers, or to withhold a writ of summons...

I would argue that we have kept up the momentum. It is essential that this House is able to deal with disciplinary issues effectively. Last year, the Privileges Committee concluded that this House did not have the powers it needed to expel Peers, or to withhold a writ of summons...

I do not have the answer. I suspect that I know what the answer to the noble Lord’s question is and I will certainly answer it when I come to wind up the debate later today. Part 5 contains a package of measures which relate to your Lordships’ House. The...

I do not have the answer. I suspect that I know what the answer to the noble Lord’s question is and I will certainly answer it when I come to wind up the debate later today. Part 5 contains a package of measures which relate to your Lordships’ House. The...

I think that the answer is none, but some other Bills that have gone through wash-up are extremely important and have had a great influence on our national life, not least Bills on education, criminal justice and other matters. I dare say we will discuss this later this afternoon and...

I think that the answer is none, but some other Bills that have gone through wash-up are extremely important and have had a great influence on our national life, not least Bills on education, criminal justice and other matters. I dare say we will discuss this later this afternoon and...

My Lords, I cannot comment on whether wash-up will begin soon or not. It is an entirely theoretical consideration at this stage. I can say to my noble friend, and I choose my words carefully, that as the House will know, the wash-up is a regular feature at the end...

My Lords, I cannot comment on whether wash-up will begin soon or not. It is an entirely theoretical consideration at this stage. I can say to my noble friend, and I choose my words carefully, that as the House will know, the wash-up is a regular feature at the end...

Undoubtedly, the noble Lord and others feel strongly about this matter. We are now 10 years down the line. For 10 years, these by-elections have taken place.

Undoubtedly, the noble Lord and others feel strongly about this matter. We are now 10 years down the line. For 10 years, these by-elections have taken place.

Most Members of Parliament, even on the noble Lord’s side, would agree that we break with great difficulty the principle of one Member in one constituency. On the House of Lords, the issue is pretty stark. I was most impressed by the noble Lords elected as hereditary Peers, two of...

Most Members of Parliament, even on the noble Lord’s side, would agree that we break with great difficulty the principle of one Member in one constituency. On the House of Lords, the issue is pretty stark. I was most impressed by the noble Lords elected as hereditary Peers, two of...

I am not in a position tonight to give details of the Government’s proposals. Much as my noble friend may tempt me, I will not fall into that trap. The aim of the Government, if re-elected, would be substantial reform of the House of Lords in the way I have...

I am not in a position tonight to give details of the Government’s proposals. Much as my noble friend may tempt me, I will not fall into that trap. The aim of the Government, if re-elected, would be substantial reform of the House of Lords in the way I have...

I think that it is the issue of additional Members that caused the Government some problem with that. All those who serve in the House of Commons should represent a particular constituency. I do not want to get into this argument tonight. I know that there are strong feelings on...

I think that it is the issue of additional Members that caused the Government some problem with that. All those who serve in the House of Commons should represent a particular constituency. I do not want to get into this argument tonight. I know that there are strong feelings on...

I would like to agree with the right reverend Prelate, but for me, at least, and, I should have thought that for many Members of another place and many noble Lords, the idea that there should not be one Member of Parliament for one constituency makes the issue very difficult...

I would like to agree with the right reverend Prelate, but for me, at least, and, I should have thought that for many Members of another place and many noble Lords, the idea that there should not be one Member of Parliament for one constituency makes the issue very difficult...

The noble Lord should know that a draft Bill is not always the Bill that is finally produced. The workings of government are such that sometimes these things take longer than they should. I concede that, but for the noble Lord to get too high and mighty about that happening...

The noble Lord should know that a draft Bill is not always the Bill that is finally produced. The workings of government are such that sometimes these things take longer than they should. I concede that, but for the noble Lord to get too high and mighty about that happening...

The answer that the noble Lord, Lord Steel, gave to this question a bit earlier—

The answer that the noble Lord, Lord Steel, gave to this question a bit earlier—

You are about to get one if you will be patient. The answer is the same as that given by the noble Lord, Lord Steel. The changes to be made to the House of Lords, some of them in this Bill, represent a change from the position as it was...

You are about to get one if you will be patient. The answer is the same as that given by the noble Lord, Lord Steel. The changes to be made to the House of Lords, some of them in this Bill, represent a change from the position as it was...

The noble Earl has reminded me yet again tonight why he is here—I will not use his phrase. That is why we will have in our manifesto a commitment to an elected House of Lords as quickly as possible. I must move on. I should say something about the tax...

The noble Earl has reminded me yet again tonight why he is here—I will not use his phrase. That is why we will have in our manifesto a commitment to an elected House of Lords as quickly as possible. I must move on. I should say something about the tax...

Let me be frank with the noble Lord. He has more knowledge of government than I will ever have, and he will know better than most that sometimes within government it takes time to come to an agreement about what should or should not be in a Bill. Various departments...

Let me be frank with the noble Lord. He has more knowledge of government than I will ever have, and he will know better than most that sometimes within government it takes time to come to an agreement about what should or should not be in a Bill. Various departments...

I think I have got the noble Lord’s point. I am coming up to 30 minutes. The House has been very patient with me. I hope that large parts of the Bill will become law because I think that they are not contentious but will add value in a number...

I think I have got the noble Lord’s point. I am coming up to 30 minutes. The House has been very patient with me. I hope that large parts of the Bill will become law because I think that they are not contentious but will add value in a number...

The noble Earl makes his point, which has perhaps been made ad nauseam today. It is a good point, which I shall deal with in my own time at the end of my remarks. I want to deal with the amendment of the noble Lord, Lord Steel, and I genuinely...

The noble Earl makes his point, which has perhaps been made ad nauseam today. It is a good point, which I shall deal with in my own time at the end of my remarks. I want to deal with the amendment of the noble Lord, Lord Steel, and I genuinely...

My Lords, first, and quite genuinely, believe it or not, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in this debate. I have not agreed with every word—not with many of them, actually—but the quality of the speeches has been great. The expertise that we have seen on Civil Service...

My Lords, first, and quite genuinely, believe it or not, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in this debate. I have not agreed with every word—not with many of them, actually—but the quality of the speeches has been great. The expertise that we have seen on Civil Service...

My Lords, much of the Bill crosses familiar territory for your Lordships. It was preceded by the Government’s draft Constitutional Renewal Bill which was published in March 2008 for pre-legislative scrutiny. The draft Bill was also put out for public consultation in the Government’s draft legislative programme. In total this...

My Lords, much of the Bill crosses familiar territory for your Lordships. It was preceded by the Government’s draft Constitutional Renewal Bill which was published in March 2008 for pre-legislative scrutiny. The draft Bill was also put out for public consultation in the Government’s draft legislative programme. In total this...