Parliament

This House of Lords Library briefing covers the maiden and valedictory speeches made during the course of the 2017--2019 parliament. The first and last speeches made by a Member of the House of Lords are significant occasions and, by tradition, are marked with respect by the House.

How can the House of Commons pass laws the Lords disagrees with? The answer lies in two key pieces of legislation. The Parliament Act 1911 provided that any public bill rejected by the House of Lords could still be passed as long as three sessions over a two-year period had elapsed from its original second reading to its final third reading in the House of Commons. The Parliament Act 1949, passed 70 years ago, reduced that time period to one year and two sessions.

According to the Salisbury Convention, the House of Lords gives a second reading to government bills that seek to implement manifesto commitments, does not subject manifesto bills to wrecking amendments and returns manifesto bills to the Commons in reasonable time. This House of Lords Library Briefing examines the development of the convention and looks at the debates on how it applied after the 2010 and 2017 general elections, which both produced a hung parliament.

This House of Lords Library briefing has been prepared to mark the centenary of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919. It provides a summary of the provisions of the Act and an overview of some of the debates had at the time about introducing and implementing gender equality legislation.

This House of Lords Library Briefing provides statistics on sessions since 1900 that have lasted for more than twelve months and lists the years in which there has been no Queen’s/King’s Speech.

This House of Lords Library briefing lists former prime ministers who have held office since 1902, together with information on whether the individuals received a peerage after leaving the House of Commons.

This House of Lords Library Briefing provides extracts from political party manifestos since 1970 charting the various positions taken on Europe over the last five decades.

This House of Lords Library Briefing provides an overview of prerogative powers in the UK. It includes a discussion of powers reserved to the monarch, and examples of how they have been used.

This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared to mark the 100th anniversary of the Government of India Act 1919 receiving royal assent and the role of the peer of non-European descent, Lord Sinha, in piloting the Act through the Lords.

This House of Lords Library Briefing provides background information on the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999.

This House of Lords Library Briefing provides information on the Northern Ireland Budget Bill in advance of its second reading and remaining stages, due to take place in the House of Lords on 31 October 2019. It also identifies relevant reports and useful documents, including parliamentary materials and press articles, which may be of assistance to Members in preparing for that debate.

This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared ahead of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Early Parliamentary General Election Bill scheduled to take place on 30 October 2019. The remaining stages of the bill are also due to take place on 30 October if the House agrees to a government motion to dispense with the standing order that would normally prevent more than one bill stage taking place on the same day.