Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to require hereditary peers on the Register of Hereditary Peers to be subject to the same vetting procedures carried out by the House of Lords Appointments Commission to which new life peers are subject.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The House of Lords Appointments Commission recommends individuals for appointment as non-party-political life peers, and vets nominations for life peers, including those nominated by the UK political parties, to ensure the highest standards of propriety. There are no plans to amend the Commission’s remit.
Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what checks are made to determine whether peers on the Register are willing to put their names forward for hereditary peer by-elections; and how often any such checks are made.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
All those on the register of hereditary peers maintained under Standing Order 9(4) who were members of the House before the passage of the House of Lords Act 1999 indicated their willingness to stand in hereditary peer by-elections, either before the first edition of the Register was issued on 13 November 2002, or subsequently. Hereditary peers who have succeeded to their titles since 1999 are required to petition the House to “direct the Clerk of the Parliaments to enter [them] on the register of hereditary peers who wish to stand in any by-election for election to Your Lordships’ House”.
Every peer on the register is contacted before each by-election to ask if they wish to be a candidate, and if a peer no longer wishes to be included on the register, they can request that their name be removed from it at any time.
Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is their policy to maintain the current party balance in the House of Lords, whereby the party of His Majesty’s Government has over 90 peers more than the Official Opposition.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Appointments to the House of Lords are a matter for the Prime Minister to advise the Sovereign. There is a longstanding convention that the Leader of the Opposition may nominate political peers from, or representing, their own political party. Recent nomination lists include both government and opposition peers as well as cross bench and non-affiliated peers.
Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether he will publish a copy of the Register of Hereditary Peers with the year each peer was added to the Register.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Register of Hereditary Peers (HL Paper 2) was first published on 13 November 2002, and is published at the start of each session of Parliament. The table below gives the year in which each peer was first listed in the Register as published at the start of each Session.
Title | Year of first inclusion in HL Paper 2 |
Aberdeen and Temair, M. | 2021 |
Abergavenny, M. | 2002 |
Addison, V. | 2002 |
Ailsa, M. | 2016 |
Albemarle, E. | 2010 |
Aldenham, L. | 2002 |
Aldington, L. | 2002 |
Alexander of Tunis, E. | 2002 |
Ampthill, L. | 2012 |
Annaly, L. | 2006 |
Ashbourne, L. | 2022 |
Ashburton, L. | 2021 |
Aylesford, E. | 2008 |
Baillieu, L. | 2022 |
Balfour, E. | 2004 |
Beaufort, D. | 2019 |
Bedford, D. | 2003 |
Belper, L. | 2002 |
Belhaven and Stenton, L.* | 2022 |
Bicester, L. | 2019 |
Biddulph, L. | 2002 |
Birkett, L. | 2021 |
Bolton, L. | 2007 |
Boston, L. | 2007 |
Braybrooke, L. | 2019 |
Brentford, V. | 2003 |
Bridges, L. | 2019 |
Bristol, M. | 2006 |
Bruntisfield, L. | 2008 |
Buccleuch and Queensberry, D. | 2008 |
Burnham, L. | 2005 |
Cadman, L. | 2002 |
Cairns, E. | 2002 |
Calverley, L. | 2002 |
Carew, L. | 2002 |
Carlisle, E. | 2003 |
Carnarvon, E. | 2019 |
Cawley, L. | 2002 |
Chorley, L. | 2019 |
Clanwilliam, E. (L. Clanwilliam) | 2009 |
Clydesmuir, L. | 2002 |
Cobham, V. | 2007 |
Cochrane of Cults, L. | 2019 |
Combermere, V. | 2002 |
Cranbrook, E. | 2002 |
Cromer, E. | 2002 |
Dacre, B. | 2016 |
Darcy de Knayth, L. | 2008 |
Daresbury, L. | 2002 |
Darling, L. | 2006 |
Darnley, E. (Clifton, L.) | 2019 |
Daventry, V. | 2002 |
Davies, L. | 2004 |
De Clifford, L. | 2019 |
De La Warr, E. | 2002 |
De L’Isle, V. | 2002 |
De Ramsey, L. | 2002 |
Devonport, V. | 2002 |
Dormer, L. | 2019 |
Downshire, M. (Hillsborough, E.) | 2019 |
Drogheda, E. (L. Moore) | 2002 |
Dudley, E. | 2015 |
Dudley, L. | 2003 |
Dundonald, E. | 2002 |
Durham, E. | 2008 |
Dysart, E.* | 2022 |
Eglinton and Winton, E. | 2019 |
Eldon, E. | 2019 |
Elibank, L. | 2019 |
Ellenborough, L. | 2014 |
Enniskillen, E. (L. Grinstead) | 2003 |
Erne, E. (L. Fermanagh) | 2019 |
Ferrers, E. | 2014 |
Fisher, L. | 2013 |
Fortescue, E. | 2003 |
Gage, V. (L. Gage) | 2002 |
Gainsborough, E. | 2012 |
Glenconner, L. | 2015 |
Glendyne, L. | 2008 |
Gormanston, V. (L. Gormanston) | 2002 |
Grafton, D. | 2012 |
Grantley, L. | 2002 |
Gray, L. | 2004 |
Grimston of Westbury, L. | 2016 |
Grimthorpe, L. | 2004 |
Haddington, E. | 2019 |
Halifax, E. | 2002 |
Hamilton and Brandon, D. | 2012 |
Hamilton of Dalzell, L. | 2008 |
Hankey, L. | 2017 |
Harrowby, E. | 2008 |
Hayter, L. | 2014 |
Hazlerigg, L.* | 2022 |
Hemphill, L. | 2013 |
Herbert, L. | 2002 |
Hereford, V. | 2006 |
Hill, V. | 2004 |
Hindlip, L. | 2002 |
Hives, L. | 2019 |
HolmPatrick, L. | 2002 |
Hood, V. | 2003 |
Iddesleigh, E. | 2005 |
Ironside, L. | 2022 |
Iveagh, E. | 2002 |
Kenilworth, L. | 2002 |
Kennet, L. | 2012 |
Kilbracken, L. | 2009 |
Kilmarnock, L. | 2015 |
Kimberley, E. | 2003 |
Latymer, L. | 2004 |
Lauderdale, E. | 2009 |
Lawrence, L. | 2002 |
Leathers, V. | 2002 |
Leven and Melville, E. | 2017 |
Lichfield, E. | 2007 |
Limerick, E. (L. Foxford) | 2003 |
Lloyd George of Dwyfor, E. | 2012 |
Lucan, E. (L. Bingham) | 2017 |
Mackintosh of Halifax, V. | 2002 |
McNair, L. | 2005 |
Margadale, L. | 2003 |
Margesson, V. | 2016 |
Marlborough, D. | 2015 |
Massereene and Ferrard, V. (L. Oriel) | 2002 |
Melville, V. | 2012 |
Merthyr, L. | 2017 |
Meston, L. | 2002 |
Middleton, L. | 2015 |
Milford, L. | 2002 |
Milner of Leeds, L. | 2004 |
Milverton, L. | 2002 |
Monckton of Brenchley, V. | 2007 |
Monk Bretton, L. | 2022 |
Monson, L. | 2012 |
Moran, L. | 2015 |
Morris, L. | 2014 |
Morris of Kenwood, L. | 2006 |
Morton, E. | 2017 |
Mostyn, L. | 2015 |
Mountgarret, V. (L. Mountgarret) | 2006 |
Mowbray, Segrave and Stourton, L. | 2022 |
Napier and Ettrick, L. | 2013 |
Nathan, L. | 2009 |
Nelson of Stafford, L. | 2007 |
Newall, L. | 2002 |
Noel-Buxton, L. | 2015 |
Normanton, E. (Somerton, L.) | 2019 |
Norrie, L. | 2002 |
Norwich, V.* | 2022 |
Nunburnholme, L. | 2007 |
Onslow, E. | 2012 |
Oranmore and Browne, L. (L. Mereworth) | 2003 |
Oxfuird, V. | 2005 |
Penrhyn, L. | 2004 |
Polwarth, L. | 2006 |
Poole, L. | 2002 |
Powerscourt, V. (L. Powerscourt) | 2016 |
Rathcavan, L. | 2002 |
Renwick, L. | 2021 |
Richmond, Lennox and Gordon, D. | 2019 |
Robertson of Oakridge, L. | 2009 |
Rochdale, V.* | 2022 |
Rossmore, L. | 2022 |
Rowallan, L. | 2002 |
Roxburghe, D. | 2021 |
Russell, E. | 2016 |
Rutland, D. | 2002 |
St Davids, V. | 2009 |
St Levan, L. | 2014 |
Savile, L. | 2009 |
Scarbrough, E. | 2004 |
Seaford, L. | 2002 |
Selborne, E. | 2022 |
Sempill, L. | 2002 |
Shaftesbury, E. | 2007 |
Simon of Wythenshawe, L.* | 2022 |
Snowdon, E. | 2019 |
Somerleyton, L. | 2013 |
Southampton, L. | 2016 |
Spens, L. | 2007 |
Stockton, E. | 2003 |
Strange, L. | 2006 |
Sutherland, D. | 2002 |
Swansea, L. | 2006 |
Swinfen, L.* | 2022 |
Temple of Stowe, E. | 2014 |
Terrington, L. | 2002 |
Teviot, L. | 2002 |
Tollemache, L. | 2002 |
Torrington, V. | 2002 |
Vernon, L. | 2002 |
Vivian, L. | 2005 |
Walpole, L. | 2022 |
Weir, V. | 2002 |
Wemyss and March, E. | 2009 |
Wharton, L. | 2003 |
Wigram, L. | 2019 |
Wilton, E. (Ebury, L.) | 2002 |
Windlesham, L. | 2012 |
Wise, L. | 2014 |
Woolton, E. | 2002 |
Wrenbury, L. | 2014 |
Wynford, L. | 2012 |
Yarborough, E. | 2002 |
*Peers who have been added to the register since the most recent edition of HL Paper 2 was published on 10 May 2022.
Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what has been the (1) individual, and (2) total, cost of the five most recent hereditary peer by-elections in the House of Lords.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The costs incurred in conducting the five most recent hereditary peer by-elections are set out in the table below. Three of these ballots were for two vacancies.
| Date | Cost (inclusive of VAT) |
Rotherwick, L. – Conservative | March 2022 | £420 |
Brabazon of Tara, L., Swinfen, L. (combined) – Conservative | July 2022 | £600 |
Ullswater, V., Colwyn, L. (combined) – Whole House | October 2022 | £900 |
Listowel, E. – Crossbench | October 2022 | £390 |
Astor of Hever, L., Home, E. (combined) – Conservative | October 2022 | £600 |
TOTAL |
| £2,910 |
These costs represent the fees to be paid to Civica, the contractor that supports the Administration in conducting by-elections. They exclude the cost of time spent by House of Lords staff, for whom such work forms part of their normal duties, which cannot therefore be costed separately.
Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government to list the peers who have been appointed to the House since 2010 to serve as ministers; and, in each case, how long the peer remained in ministerial office.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Life peers are appointed by Her Majesty the Queen to serve in the House of Lords for life, or until they retire from the House. Such peers may continue to provide public service long after they have ceased to be a Minister of the Crown – as the Noble Lord will, I am sure, attest himself.
The Government does not hold this information centrally.
Notwithstanding, to assist the Noble Lord’s scrutiny, the attached list of ministers who were appointed to the House of Lords within a month of appointment to Government has been compiled from information in the public domain. For completeness, we have provided information from 1997 to now.
Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many overseas voters requested a vote in the 2019 general election, listed by the constituency to which they were allocated.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
At the 2019 General Election, the Electoral Commission reported that approximately 230,000 overseas electors were registered to vote. The Commission published (attached) a breakdown of overseas electors by constituency in Great Britain. https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-05/UKPGE%202019-%20Electoral%20Data-Website.xlsx>.
Overseas electors have the option to vote by post, by proxy or in person (where the elector is in the relevant constituency on the day of the poll). The Government does not hold data on the voting method used by overseas electors to cast their vote or how many of them do. The Government does not hold data on the number of overseas electors who submitted a postal vote application.
Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many additional people will be enfranchised by their proposal to introduce votes for life for British citizens living overseas.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Elections Bill Impact Assessment estimates the removal of the 15 year rule will increase the number of British citizens abroad who are eligible to register to vote from 0.9 million - 1.1 million people to 3.2 million - 3.4 million people in 2023/24.
Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Kamall on 20 December 2021 (HL4956), whether they will publish the details of the Government to Government agreements with (1) Kenya, (2) Malaysia, and (3) the Philippines.
Answered by Lord Kamall
Copies of the agreements with Kenya, Malaysia and the Philippines on healthcare workforce recruitment are attached.
Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Kamall on 27 January (HL Deb col 436) regarding the ethical international recruitment of nurses, what ethical provisions were included in the agreements with (1) Kenya, (2) Malaysia, and (3) the Philippines, to which he referred in his Written Answer on 20 December 2021 (HL4956).
Answered by Lord Kamall
The Government to Government agreements established with Kenya, Malaysia and the Philippines commit to ensuring fair, ethical and sustainable recruitment and employment of healthcare professionals, pursuant to existing laws and regulations in each partner country. We are working with the Governments of Malaysia and Kenya to develop detailed implementation guidelines which will be published in due course. Our agreement with the Philippines confirms that United Kingdom recruiters will consider the national demand for healthcare in relation to the number of healthcare workers in the Philippines.