One month is a long time in the Lords
By Ned Simons - 28th April 2011
House of Lords reform progressed at the less than brisk pace of an elderly Baroness this afternoon.
The decision as to which peers get to ask an oral question of a minister in the chamber is currently decided on a first come first serve basis.
At the moment the noble Lords and Baronesses have to race each other down to the Table Officeat 10am in order to secure a slot one month in advance - not very dignified.
Changes approved today have pushed this time back to 2pm in order to give peers who have morning commitments more chance. The notice period has also been reduced from "one calendar month to four weeks".
But as Lord Sewel noted sarcasticaly, this is hardly a radical overhaul of even this most obscure of parliamentary procedures.
"I am all in favour of reform and modernisation,"he said. "But is this not in danger of going too far, too fast in making an immediate change from one month to four weeks?
"Did the committee consider a phased introduction, perhaps over several decades, in order to bring this about?"
Just wait until they have to debate getting rid of 80 per cent of appointed peers alltogether.
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