Does the House of Lords carry out its power effectively?

Question 1

Yes - Scrutiny of legislation

Answer 1

• Made 342 accepted ammendments to the Health and Social Care Bill 2012 - enabled by the life peers’ extensive wealth of knowledge and experience (e.g Lord Crisp, the former chief executive of the NHS)
• Six select committees that discuss a wider subject matter than the commons - e.g the joint committee on HR scrutinised bills in accordance with the HR act of 1998 and the EU committee produced a report on Brexit which became the blueprint of conducting negotiations.
• Able to delay legislation - e.g delayed the coalition govt introducing election ID cards that were dropped.
• Rep minority interest = rejected twice the Govt’s attempt to cut £30 per week of benefits for disabled people deemed unfit to work.
• Discusssed the Agricultural Bill for 96 hours compared with 32 hours, showing a greater level of detailed the HOC failed to consider.

Question 2

No - they cannot scrutinise

Answer 2

• Limited as the house is unelected - lacks democratic legitimacy, so they cannot ammend legislation but can only recommend and pressurise the govt.
• EXAMPLE = Dubbs amendment 2017 was repealed after taking 350 child refugees of the 3500 capacity stated in the ammendment.
• Limits due to rules of financial privilege and the Salisbury Convention - parliamentary ping-pong’ was curtailed over the EU withdrawal Act 2020 owed much to the unelected Lords as they struggled to challenge a large-majority govt with a resh mandate to ‘get Brexit done’.

Question 3

Yes - enhances representation

Answer 3

• Can reflect interest that might not be repped in HOC because MPs are deemed career politicans and seek to gain majority opinion to be relected, as Lords retain their titles their life and can improve their expertise.
• Aided by the large number of members at 788, only 92 being hereditary, compared to 650 in the commons.
• Appointed because of their experience, enhancing expertise - peers like Andrew Lloyd Webber served as a conservative peer, reflecting his experience with the theatre industry and has served on the Works of Art committee. Likewise, Lord Sugar is a life peer because of his knowledge of business.
• HOL ethnic minorities was 13% (2011 census) from 2.6% (2001) compared to HOC, 8% rise from 2%.

Question 4

No - it doesn’t enhance representation

Answer 4

• Inadequate in terms of rep and size.
• Size: Lords retain their title, which is helpful in developing expertise and continunity, but contributes to the enlarging chamber size, as new peers are appointed on an annual basis. Larger than France’s 348 senators - more difficult because debates and committees are less coheisive, making it more difficult for collaboration.
• Flawed compostition: 26 Catholic bishops are peers but no other religion is represented and 25% are female, lower than the HOC at 32%.