Hereditary Peers By-election
Debate between Lord Forsyth of Drumlean and Lord Hamilton of Epsom
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)
My Lords, I confess that I have not always been a great fan of the hereditary by-elections, but we must surely all acknowledge that the process has brought some people of quite exceptional talent and ability to this House who would not make it through the conventional appointment process.
Lord Hamilton of Epsom (Con)
My Lords, I always find it very confusing that we have these speeches condemning hereditary by-elections when all the rest of us are appointed by an extremely obscure system which very few of us really understand. The problem is the appointment of so many Members of this House, not the election, albeit by a small electorate, of the few who come in as hereditary Peers.
Conduct Committee
Debate between Lord Forsyth of Drumlean and Lord Hamilton of Epsom
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)
My Lords, I shall be very brief. First, I thank the chairman of the committee for having listened to the House and for having made these amendments—but I do have one query. Paragraph 4 states:
“Where the only evidence cited in support of a complaint is the member’s expression of views or opinions, the complaint will be dismissed”—
that is great, but it then goes on—
“following preliminary assessment on this basis.”
I do not know what that means. Does it mean that if someone complains about something that I have said, a statement will be issued saying that it is being investigated? Why do we need
“following preliminary assessment on this basis”?
Does that mean that, once it is seen that the complaint is about an expression in the Chamber, it will be dismissed?
My second question relates to Valuing Everyone. The report states:
“A failure to arrange to attend a seminar within the specified period is a breach of this Code.”
The specified period is three months. We had a very bad experience with the noble Baroness, Lady Boothroyd, who was not able to take part because of illness, and there is no get-out here. So I suggest it should say, “unless there is a reasonable excuse”.
Lord Hamilton of Epsom (Con)
I wish to follow up my noble friend Lord Cormack’s remarks about Valuing Everyone. The last course we had was, to be quite honest, absolutely farcical and a total waste of taxpayers’ money. I notice that the noble Baroness is introducing a new course. Can I have an undertaking from her that she will attend the first course, so that she can approve what is being put out to other Members of this House?