Question

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether he will publish the terms and conditions of the contract with the Electoral Reform Services for their services in relation to hereditary peers' by-elections.

Electoral Reform Services have provided services in relation to elections and by-elections for hereditary peers since they were instituted in 1999 on an ad hoc basis rather than under a contract of service. It is intended that a tender exercise will be undertaken shortly to put in place a contract to provide these services. Any contract signed as a result of that tender exercise is expected to be governed by the standard terms and conditions of the House of Lords, available on the Parliament website: https://www.parliament.uk/documents/CSD-Commercial-Services-Directorate/General%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20of%20Contract%20-%2015%20May%202018%20-%20HoL.pdf.