Lord Tyler asked the Government in a parliamentary question yesterday "when they expect to publish the planned draft clauses on House of Lords reform in the light of responses to the White Paper An Elected Second Chamber: Further Reform of the House of Lords."Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (pictured), the Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, replied, "My Lords, the Government have always said that they would consider the possibility of publishing draft clauses in the light of responses to the White Paper. We are still in a period of consideration." He added later "We intend to report in the summer on the results of the consultation."
The issue which excited their Lordships was proportional representatation for the election of Peers. Lord Tyler claimed "the Conservative leader has announced that he is now campaigning for the same vote, the same value, right across the country—in other words, for proportional representation" - which upset some of the Tories, Lord Strathclyde commenting, "My Lords, may I assure the Minister that the noble Lord, Lord Tyler, is clearly deluding himself? The Conservative Party has no intention of campaigning for proportional representation."
The whole of the exchanges can be read at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90427-0001.htm#0904272000438
