House of Lords: Peers Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

House of Lords: Peers

Lord Tyler Excerpts
Thursday 8th November 2012

(11 years, 6 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Strathclyde Portrait Lord Strathclyde
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My Lords, I have already set up a Leader’s Group to look at retirement issues, chaired by my noble friend Lord Hunt. Its conclusions deserve rereading and I am more than happy to re-examine them to see whether any changes could be brought forward given the position that the Government are now in; namely, that there will be no further legislation for this House in this Parliament.

Lord Tyler Portrait Lord Tyler
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My Lords, does my noble friend accept that banishing those who do not attend would be pointless and equally that persuading non-attenders to come regularly would be counterproductive? Has my noble friend seen the excellent note from the Clerks on this issue which records the fact that in 1820 the House ordered that Peers be fined up to £100 for each day’s absence? At today’s money, would not that help deal with the deficit?

Lord Strathclyde Portrait Lord Strathclyde
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It certainly would, my Lords. I have not had the luxury of reading the Clerks’ paper but I very much look forward to doing so.