Member

A variety of proposals have been put forward and I will venture just one more before Report. If it was determined that, during the course of this Parliament, a member of this House had reached the age of 85, they might be required to retire in 2029. That would not be the cliff edge that the noble Lord, Lord Anderson of Ipswich, spoke of in an earlier debate on this topic. It would see the departure of about 180 Peers. Thereafter, it could be determined that those who reached the age of 80 during the following Parliament would have to retire at the end of that Parliament in 2034. That would mean that a Peer who is presently 71 years of age would have a further 10 years in this House. It would mean that a Peer who is at present more than 81 years of age would have a further four years in this House, and it would treat all Peers equally. It would also reduce the numbers, refresh this House and allow for a further cohort to appear.