Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many private members’ bills starting in (1) the House of Commons, and (2) the House of Lords, have received Royal Assent since the 2019 general election.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
Details on how many private members' bills starting in both the House of Commons and House of Lords from the 2019 General Election to the 2021-22 session are available on the Parliament website at: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn04568/. In the current parliamentary session the following private members' bills have reached Royal Assent:
Bill title | House of introduction |
Ballot Secrecy Bill | Lords |
Carer’s Leave Bill | Commons |
Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Bill | Commons |
Co-operatives, Mutuals and Friendly Societies Bill | Commons |
Electricity Transmission (Compensation) Bill (formerly Electricity and Gas Transmission (Compensation) Bill) | Commons |
Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill | Commons |
Mobile Homes (Pitch Fees) Bill | Commons |
Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill | Commons |
Offenders (Day of Release from Detention) Bill | Commons |
Pensions Dashboards (Prohibition of Indemnification) Bill | Commons |
Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill | Commons |
Shark Fins Bill | Commons |
Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill | Commons |
In addition, the following private members' bills are awaiting Royal Assent. These bills originated in the House of Commons:
Child Support (Enforcement) Bill
Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill
Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill
Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many police officers have (1) joined, and (2) left, the police force since 2019.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The Home Office collects and publishes data annually on the number of police officers joining and leaving the police service in the “Police workforce, England and Wales” statistical bulletin. The table below shows the full-time equivalent (FTE) police officer joiners and leavers, in the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales, since 1 April 2019.
Table 1: Police officer (FTE) joiners and leavers, England and Wales
Financial year | Joiners | Leavers |
2019/20 | 12,883 | 7,141 |
2020/21 | 12,127 | 6,018 |
2021/22 | 12,789 | 8,117 |
Note: Excludes those transferring between forces.
Separately, as part of the “Police officer uplift, England and Wales” statistical bulletin, the Home Office publishes data on new police officer recruits, on a headcount basis.
The latest data, covering recruitment up to 30 September 2022, shows there have been 37,773 new police officer recruits (headcount) to the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales since November 2019. This refers only to new police officer recruits joining the Police Service. Those returning to the police service, such as after a period of absence and transfers from other forces are not included.
Leavers data are not published as part of the “Police officer uplift” statistical bulletin.
Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many life peers have been appointed on the advice of the former Prime Minster, Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP; and how these appointments were distributed between the following parliamentary groupings: (1) Conservative, (2) Labour, (3) Liberal Democrat, and (4) the Crossbenches.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
Publicly available information shows that 87 peerages have been created on the advice of Rt Hon Boris Johnson. 44 of these were Conservative, 13 were Labour and 19 were Crossbench. Ultimately it is for the Prime Minister to recommend to the Sovereign which individuals ought to be appointed to the House of Lords.
Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether he will publish a list of each peer on the Register of Hereditary Peers that has contested a hereditary peer by-election; and in each case, on what date or dates those by-elections took place.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The information is given in the attached table. Hereditary peers who have been successful candidates in by-elections, and who are therefore no longer included in the Register, are not listed. The ‘by-election name’ in each case is the title of the former member whose death or resignation from the House precipitated the by-election.
Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 16 November (HL Deb col 888), how many additional Conservative peers they consider it will be necessary to appoint to ensure that the Conservative Party is not “underrepresented in the Lords”.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
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 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 - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
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 - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
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.