Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what basis they consider that the provisions of the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill comply with the terms of the European Convention on Human Rights, given the impact of the bill on male diocesan bishops.

The Bill is fully compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights. Both Strasbourg and domestic case law has established that the right to participate in the work of the House of Lords does not engage the Articles of the Convention.