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1

What legislation enables the House of Commons to override the House of Lords and send a bill for Royal Assent?

The Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949

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2

How are the chairs of House of Commons select committees chosen?

By a vote of the whole House of Commons.

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3

What are the obstacles to House of Lords reform?

While there might be a relatively broadly held view that the present composition of the House of Lords is unsatisfactory, there is not necessarily a high level of public demand for change.

Governments might have other priorities and not wish to use up time and political capital on a House of Lords reform programme.

Even among those who agree with reform of some kind, there is likely to be disagreement about any specific proposal.

The House of Lords is likely to resist change; and so are many members of the Commons. Opponents of reform might argue that a referendum should be held on any major change.

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4

What are the main functions of Parliament, and are there tensions between them?

The main functions are:

• To be the basis for the UK central government of the day, providing it with political and financial support
• To hold government to account
• To legislate
• To interface with the public

There can be tensions, for instance, between supporting the government and holding it to account. There are also practical tensions involving the workload upon individual members, who are required to perform so many different functions that it might not be possible for them satisfactorily to perform them all.

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5

Has the House of Lords been reformed enough?

House of Lords has reformed in many ways, including:

• 1911 Parliament Act
• 1945 Salisbury-Addison rule
• 1949 Parliament Act
• 1958 Life Peerages Act
• 1999 House of Lords Act
• 2005 Constitutional Reform Act

But it has not – contrary to what was anticipated in 1911 – become elected (apart from the election of hereditary peers by other hereditary peers). However, were it to become elected, it might gain in legitimacy in such a way that it came increasingly seriously to challenge the supremacy of the House of Commons. This unanticipated outcome could have a destabilising impact upon the UK constitution and political system, with the authority of government potentially called into question.

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6

What was the significance of the Wright report of 2009?

The reforms it proposed were, if implemented, likely to lead to an enhancement in the independence of Parliament from government and in its ability to hold government to account.

It led to chairs and members of select committees being elected.

It led to the House of Commons having some more control over its own time, though its proposals were not fully implemented.

Eventually, proposals for petitions were implemented.

It demonstrates the circumstances in which a major reform can take place. The context was the expenses scandal of 2009. While the reforms that eventually appeared had little to do with the scandal, the government that initiated the Wright committee felt a pressure to act that they would not normally have done.