By Tony Grew - 8th April 2011
The House of Lords procedure committee has suggested changes to the election of the Lord Speaker.
Baroness Hayman was elected to the role in June 2006, beating eight other candidates.
She has not indicated if she intends to stand again this year.
Standing orders state that "elections shall be held (a) no more than five years after the previous election, or (b) within three months of the death of the Lord Speaker, or his giving notice of resignation, if sooner".
However, the procedure committee concluded that that standing order is "defective".
"The date of the election is fixed by reference to the preceding election.
"The last election took place on Wednesday 28 June 2006; if the next election is to be held on a Wednesday (the day on which attendance at the House is normally highest) the latest possible date would be Wednesday 22 June 2011.
"Over time, the date would be brought further forward.
"Moreover, if a Lord Speaker were either to die in office or resign, the timetable for all future elections would be re-set by reference to a one-off, unpredictable event, which might not be convenient for the House as a whole."
The committee has suggested a fixed date with a handover period between the election and taking office, to allow a new Lord Speaker "to rearrange his or her affairs, for instance in order to comply with the rules on the Lord Speaker's financial interests".
The committee has proposed the following timetable, subject to the agreement of the House.
By 5pm Thursday 23 June- Candidatures to be registered. In accordance with SO 19(2), each candidate would require a proposer and a seconder.
Monday 27 June- List of candidates published and sent to all Members of the House, together with a statement of each candidate's Parliamentary service, their entry in the Register of Lords' Interests, and election addresses of up to 75 words.
Wednesday 29 June- Ballot papers sent to those requesting a postal vote, to be returned by 5pm on Wednesday 13 July.
Wednesday 13 July- Voting will take place from 10am to 8pm.
Monday 18 July- The Clerk of the Parliaments will report the result of the election to the House at the start of business. Her Majesty The Queen's approval of the House's choice of Speaker will be notified.
Thursday 1 September- Any new Lord Speaker will formally take office.
Monday 5 September- Any new Lord Speaker will sit on the Woolsack for the first time at the start of business.
The procedure committee said in other respects any forthcoming election should follow the same procedure as applied in 2006.
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