Second chambers around the world: Size and membership
In light of the UK government’s recent proposals to reform the House of Lords, this briefing presents facts and figures comparing the House of Lords with other second chambers around the world.
Documents to download
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Wash-up 2010 (1 MB , PDF)
The wash-up period at the end of a Parliament allows a Government to get onto the statute book essential or non-controversial legislation that would not otherwise complete its passage through Parliament because of dissolution.
In 2010, wash-up proved more contentious than on recent previous occasions and prompted calls for the procedure to be reviewed or for additional checks and balances to protect against limited parliamentary scrutiny.
This paper has been jointly authored by staff in the House of Lords and House of Commons Libraries. The same paper has been published as both a House of Lords Library Note (LLN 2011/007) and a House of Commons Library Research Paper (RP 11/18).
Documents to download
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Wash-up 2010 (1 MB , PDF)
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Peerages awarded to former UK prime ministers
Former prime minister Theresa May joined the House of Lords in August 2024 after standing down as an MP ahead of the 2024 general election. This followed David Cameron being appointed in November 2023 to serve as foreign secretary. This page lists former UK prime ministers who have held office since 1902, together with information on whether the individuals later received a peerage entitling them to sit in the House of Lords.
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Private members’ bills with government support lost at dissolution 2024: How close was Parliament to changing the law on licensing hours, puppy smuggling, virtual court hearings and more?
Individual members of either House can propose legislation through private members’ bills (PMBs). But with limited time available, they rarely become law without government, and usually cross-party, support. This briefing looks at the 14 PMBs that the then government supported that fell at the end of the 2023–24 session. Government backing was identified by whether a government department had provided explanatory notes.
