The main functions of the House of Lords- Scrutiny, Debate and Expertise Flashcards
How does the lords scrutinises the work of the government ?
The house of lords scrutinises the work of the government in oral questions to ministres and through committees
What does the Lords scrutinise
The House of Lords committees investigate public policy, proposed laws and government activity, concentrating on major political issues (instead of monitoring specific departments)
Some committees are permanent and others are set up on the basis to deal with specific issues
Why is the HOL especially regarded ?
As a result of the expertise of its members, the committee work of the HOL is especially regarded (although non-binding, they carry a great deal of weight)
Give some example of permeant HOL committees ?
European Union Committee
Science and Technology committee
International Relations committee
Constitution committee
Economic affairs committee
Communication committee
Give some examples of temporary HOL committees ?
Artificial Intelligence committee
Citizenship and civic
Engagement Committee
Intergenerational Fairness and Provision Committee
Regenerating seaside towns committee
Rural Economy Committee
Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee
Can you give an example of a joint committee of the HOC and HOL ?
There is also a number of joint committees of the HOC and HOL, such as the joint committee on human rights, which has produced significant reports on free speech in universities and the wrongful detention and deportation of members of the ‘windrush scandal’
Where does the Lords power to delay derive from ?
Power to delay legislation, (1911 and 1949 parliament acts)
What is secondary legislation ?
Secondary legislation- Secondary, or delegated, legislation is law made by a person or body other than Parliament (executive)
- Information added onto into the bill which hasn’t been passed through by a formal vote in the Commons
Why is it important that secondary legislation is as thoroughly examined as possible in the Lords ?
Since secondary legislation does not require the same amount of scrutiny as primary legislation, it is important that it is as thoroughly examined as possible
The HOC has limited time to do this and so the HOL Secondary legislation Scrutiny committee is very significant in highlighting areas of concern which might then be raised in debate in the chamber of the HOL
Example of secondary legislation being criticised in the Lords
George Osbournes use of secondary legislation to cut tax credits was the subject of detailed criticism in the Lords
Why are the expertise and cross benchers of the Lords an important factor of its function
Since members of the lords can sit for life, and a significant number of them are crossbenchers, they are also less influenced by the dictates of the whips and so can address the merits and demerits of legislation with an more open mind
What functions can’t the Lords claim as a result of it being unelected
Since the Lords is unelected, it cannot claim a legitimising function. This also means that it does not have a representative role in a democratic sense
As well as providing expertise on select committees, what Is also an important part of the scrutiny role of the HOL
One of the most important functions is debate- this can help to significantly raise the profile of an issue
Give an example of when a debate was proposed in response to the current political situations
Lord Steel- proposed a debate after a large number of killings of Palestin people took place on the Gaza Strip by Isreali military forces, saying that ‘this house takes note of the situation in Palestian territories
