UK House of Lords

How do members of the House of Lords hold the government to account on urgent issues?    One way is through private notice questions (PNQs), which are urgent questions from members to the government, granted by the Lord Speaker. Unlike daily questions, which are confirmed in advance, PNQs are requested and asked on the same day. If a question is granted, a government minister or spokesperson must come to the House of Lords chamber to respond. Lasting for 15 minutes, PNQs give members a chance to challenge the government on topical issues.    ⬇️ Watch this video for more    Stay updated on PNQs and other urgent business in the House of Lords by following us on X https://lnkd.in/eSZi2s2G

Last week a ballot took place to determine the order of private members’ bills to be debated in the 2024-25 parliamentary session.     A private members' bill is a draft law introduced by an individual member of the House of Lords rather than the government. These bills provide members with an opportunity to champion a specific cause, with the aim of bringing about a change in the law.    Private members' bills follow the same scrutiny process as any other draft law that impacts everyone. Although few become law, members can bring about changes to legislation or government policy indirectly by creating publicity around an issue.     If a private member’s bill introduced in the House of Lords successfully navigates all the necessary stages, it moves on to the House of Commons for further examination and debate.    📄 Find out more https://lnkd.in/getFtv-J  

The House of Lords got back to business this week, starting with six days of debate on the King’s Speech, but what else does the Lords do?     🔍 Let's explore one of the ways the House of Lords shapes new laws.    A key role of the Lords is to examine proposed laws, highlight issues and suggest changes. Any member can propose a change to a draft law and all amendments are considered. Most changes in the Lords come about through cross party debate, negotiation and agreement. Some government changes to draft laws come about through other members convincing them to think again. However, if members can’t agree on a change, a vote or ‘division’ is called.    When a division is called, bells ring out throughout the parliamentary estate to let everyone know that a vote is happening. Members then have eight minutes to cast their votes before the doors to the division lobbies are locked. Members walk through two division lobbies on either side of the Lords chamber and scan a pass to record their vote. The results of all the votes are recorded and made available online.     You can keep up with the latest votes from the House of Lords by visiting https://lnkd.in/eW33TxVm.    ⬇️ If you'd like to learn more about what happens during a division in the House of Lords, check out this short video. 

Royal Mail’s plans to end the transport of mail by rail and government spending commitments made to local councils are in the spotlight today in Lords questions. But what are Lords questions?     At the beginning of each Monday to Thursday when the Lords is sitting, members get the chance to scrutinise government action and a minister or spokesperson must respond. Lords questions lasts for about 40 minutes, and includes four questions on subjects relating to government actions and policy, and current events. Members take it in turns to ask a question and, if a minister is unable to answer a member’s query, they must respond later in writing.     📺 Check out our Lords questions playlist on YouTube for recent highlights from the chamber https://lnkd.in/e6k-mxB9 📄 Read a full schedule of this week’s upcoming business, including the list of daily questions https://lnkd.in/epPpKs4K   #HouseOfLords #UKParliament #LordsQs 

The House of Lords continues six days of debate on the King’s Speech today, looking at education, early years and healthcare.     The House of Lords is made up of people with a wide range of backgrounds and expertise. One way members bring attention to a topic is through debates, which allow them to raise their concerns with the government. Debates vary in length. Some, such as the debate on the King’s Speech, can last several days. Some debates are short and take 60 minutes between other items of business.    At the end of each debate, a government minister responsible for the issue being discussed responds on behalf of the government.    Visit parliament.uk/lords for more information on upcoming Lords debate, including a list of members taking part.

Yesterday, Wednesday 17 July, following the State Opening of Parliament, members of the House of Lords agreed an ‘Address in Reply to His Majesty’s Gracious Speech’ before starting six days of debate on the contents of the King’s Speech.        📢 Topics up for debate today include energy, the environment and housing.        📄 Find out more about the debate, including links to watch live https://lnkd.in/eUUppese    📝 Read impartial briefings on topics in the debate from the House of Lords Library https://lnkd.in/ebd4eRQk      #StateOpening #HouseOfLords #KingsSpeech  

Following State Opening of Parliament this morning, Wednesday 17 July, the House of Lords got straight down to work with a debate on a motion for an ‘humble address’. 📺 See more photos on Flickr https://lnkd.in/eEpGmk67     📄 Find out more https://lnkd.in/edpX8dyW     #StateOpening #UKParliament #HousesOfParliament #KingsSpeech #HouseOfLords 

This morning, the State Opening of Parliament took place, formally marking the start of the parliamentary session. Following the ceremony, the House of Lords will get straight down to work with a debate on a motion for an ‘humble address’.     The debate on the address is the formal name for debates on the content of the King’s Speech. The debates are held over several days, starting today, and give Lords members an opportunity to discuss the government’s agenda for the upcoming year.        📷 See more photos on Flickr https://lnkd.in/eumdZ2Dg    📄 Find out more about State Opening https://lnkd.in/edpX8dyW      📷 Roger Harris / Annabel Moeller     #StateOpening #UKParliament #HouseOfLords #HouseOfCommons #KingsSpeech

The first ceremony of the day took place earlier, with a search of the cellars in the Houses of Parliament. Members of the Yeomen of the Guard (a ceremonial bodyguard of the King), pictured here, conducted the search in a nod to the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.        📺 Watch the King’s Speech on the UK House of Lords YouTube channel  https://lnkd.in/ebBg6z4q     📄 Find out more about State Opening https://lnkd.in/edpX8dyW     📷 Roger Harris     #StateOpening #StateOpeningOfParliament #UKParliament #HouseOfCommons #KingsSpeech #HouseOfLords  

The King will open Parliament today, accompanied by The Queen.       State Opening marks the formal start of Parliament’s working year and The King’s Speech sets out the government’s agenda for the coming session, outlining proposed policies and legislation. It is the only regular occasion when the three parts of Parliament – the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons – meet.     📺 This video explains what will happen at the State Opening. You can watch the ceremony live online from 11.30am, including with BSL interpretation, on UK Parliament and House of Lords YouTube or X.        📄 Find out more, including links to watch live https://lnkd.in/edpX8dyW      #KingsSpeech #StateOpening #StateOpeningOfParliament #UKParliament #HouseOfCommons#HouseOfLords