Question

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker how much has been spent on the consultants employed in developing the Behaviour Code and implementing its associated training programmes.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

It is not possible to separate the sums paid to consultants and other third parties for developing the Behaviour Code and delivering its associated training programmes from those associated with the development of the wider Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).

The total of such costs across Parliament since the 2019/20 financial year is £1,144,307. This includes sums paid to consultants for developing the Behaviour Code, designing the associated training sessions and delivering them on a rolling basis to members, staff and members’ staff across both Houses. Also included in this figure is the wider training provided to ICGS staff on investigating complaints and on supporting the phone lines for reporting bullying; meetings with the independent reviewers of the ICGS; and training for House of Commons staff supporting new MPs after the General Election.

As the ICGS is a shared service, these costs are split according to a 70/30 ratio between the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The cost to the House of Lords since 2019/20 is therefore £343,292.

Question

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker how much each lay member of the Conduct Committee is paid.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Lay members of the Conduct Committee are paid £600 for each full day worked for the committee. Preparing for and attending a committee meeting is deemed to amount to a full day’s work, and the committee normally meets around once a month when the House is sitting.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what were the compelling reasons for dealing with the consequences of the Dillon case in High Court and Court of Appeal on the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 by way of remedial order under section 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998; and whether they will now consider responding to the judgments by primary legislation only.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

On 4 December, the Government laid a Draft Remedial Order under section 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998 to address all of the incompatibilities identified by the High Court in Northern Ireland and one of the incompatibilities found by the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland in the Dillon case.

The Government considers a Remedial Order to be the most suitable legislative approach to swiftly address issues that were deemed by the Courts to be incompatible with Human Rights. The government is also committed to introducing legislation which addresses other issues which could not be included in the Remedial Order, when Parliamentary time allows.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights has now published its report into the Remedial Order, and the Government will carefully consider the recommendations and respond in due course.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the names of the members of the Independent Monitoring Panel for the UK internal market guarantee.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Noble Lady to the Written Ministerial Statement (UIN HCWS463) from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 24 February 2025.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Attorney General’s Office advised the Northern Ireland Office on matters connected with the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, and the Government’s response to the Dillon case judgments regarding that Act in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Answered by Lord Hermer - Attorney General

Paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May states:

“By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 6 November 2024]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”

This is known as the Law Officers’ Convention and it applies to your question.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that elected representatives, including local councillors, exercise public powers publicly to be accountable to the electorate for their decisions.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Local authorities are accountable to the public as they are democratically elected bodies. There are a range of measures in place to ensure authorities are transparent and accountable. These include the recordings of meetings under the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations, the publication of spending data mandated by the Transparency Code, the requirement for minutes, agenda and reports to be made available for public inspection as set out by the Local Government Act 1972, and the statutory requirement for authorities’ accounts and VFM arrangements to be externally audited.

Found: This could include reappointing some hereditary peers as life peers. 59/1 HL Bill 49—III(d) BARONESS HOEY

Found: LORD FROST BARONESS LAWLOR BARONESS HOEY 18_ Clause 2, page 3, line 32, leave out subsections (7)