Member

During the early stages in Committee, significant attention was devoted to the concern that, after the departure of the hereditary Peers, the House would be entirely nominated by the Prime Minister. In previous debates, I have expressed my concern with our present arrangements, which allow the Prime Minister to determine the number of appointments to the House in total and the party composition of those appointments. This practice seems rather anomalous for a House that scrutinises government legislation and holds the Government to account. A limit on the size of the House would reduce the discretion of the Prime Minister but it would not change their constitutional role in recommending to the Crown who should be appointed.