Overview

This bill proposes significant reforms to the House of Lords, introducing mandatory retirement and expulsion rules for members, establishing an independent commission to recommend life peerages, and further limiting the number of hereditary peers.

Description

The bill covers several key areas:

Retirement and Expulsion

Peers can retire by written notice. Non-attendance for a full parliamentary session (excluding those with leave or sessions under six months) results in automatic removal. Conviction of a serious crime (defined as imprisonment or detention of over a year) also leads to expulsion. The Lord Speaker certifies these events.

Appointments Commission

A nine-member commission, nominated by the Speaker of the Commons and the Lord Speaker, will recommend all future life peerages. The commission must ensure political balance and diversity, aiming for at least 20% of the House of Lords to be independent of any political party. It will also set criteria for appointments, subject to parliamentary approval.

Hereditary Peers

The number of hereditary peers permitted in the House of Lords is further reduced from its current limit, and no new hereditary peers will be permitted to replace those who die after the bill's enactment.

Government Spending

The bill's financial impact isn't explicitly stated but likely involves administrative costs associated with the new Appointments Commission and potential savings from reduced House of Lords membership.

Groups Affected

• Peers: The bill directly impacts all peers, introducing mandatory retirement and expulsion processes. Hereditary peers face further limitations on their numbers.
• Political Parties: The bill changes how life peers are selected, impacting their influence in the House of Lords.
• The Public: The bill aims to improve the composition and effectiveness of the House of Lords, impacting its function in government.
• The Crown: The Crown retains the power to appoint peers but only on the recommendation of the new Appointments Commission.
• The Lord Speaker: The Lord Speaker gains increased authority through certification powers regarding attendance and serious criminal offences.

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