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 background information in advance of the second reading of the Lobbying (Transparency) Bill [HL] in the House of Lords on Friday 9 September.
This House of Lords Library briefing provides a list of hereditary peers' by-election results since the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999, including information on turn out and the number of candidates.
This House of Lords Library briefing provides background information in advance of the second reading of the House of Lords Act 1999 (Amendment) Bill in the House of Lords on Friday 9 September 2016.
This House of Lords Library briefing provides an analysis of Members’ registered address locations from the January 2016 expenses data and provides an indicative picture of the regional breakdown of the House of Lords. Data is also provided from August 2013 and September 2011 for comparative purposes.
Following the result of the referendum held on 23 June 2016, this House of Lords Library briefing examines what Parliament’s role would be in the process of withdrawing from the European Union in several key areas: invoking Article 50; overseeing the negotiation process; ratifying agreements; repealing and reviewing domestic legislation. This is an updated version of the briefing issued on 30 June 2016.
This House of Lords Library briefing provides information on official financial assistance provided to opposition parties and the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers in the House of Lords.
The House of Lords is due to debate the Queen’s Speech over four days between 19 and 25 May 2016. This briefing is one of four prepared by the House of Lords Library to cover the themes of each day of debate.
This House of Lords briefing provides an overview of the events of 10–11 May 1941, when the German Air Force launched an air raid on London, and dropped bombs on the Palace of Westminster, destroying the House of Commons Chamber and damaging the House of Lords Chamber, Westminster Hall and the Clock Tower. It also briefly describes the arrangements made after the attack for the rebuilding of a new House of Commons Chamber. The briefing has been prepared to mark the 75th anniversary of the bombing.
This House of Lords Library briefing provides a list of the mover and seconder following each Queen’s Speech for the past 20 years, along with each Member’s party affiliation at the time.
The Lord Speaker is elected by Members of the House of Lords every five years. This House of Lords Library briefing provides an overview of the process for electing a Lord Speaker. It includes information on standing for election, voting and the triggers for an election. The primary role of the Lord Speaker is to preside over proceedings in the Chamber, including committees of the whole House. Details about the office of the Lord Speaker itself, as well as background to how the office came into being, are available in Lords Library briefing Principal Office Holders in the House of Lords (19 March 2015).
This House of Lords Library briefing presents lists of public offices and positions previously or currently held by Members of the House of Lords as at 23 March 2016.
This House of Lords Library briefing presents a range of information about the membership of the House of Lords as the House was composed on Friday 11 March 2016.
On 9 September 2015, Queen Elizabeth II became the longest reigning sovereign in British history. This House of Lords Library briefing focuses on the Sovereign as part of the constitution of Parliament. It captures key aspects of the role of the Sovereign as it relates, in practice, to Parliament today, with an emphasis on the House of Lords. It does this through addressing a selection of the ceremonial and formal roles of the Sovereign: the State Opening of Parliament and its prorogation and dissolution; the calling of a new Parliament, in light of the Fixed-term Parliament Act 2011; Royal Commissions and royal assent; and Queen’s consent. The briefing also addresses a number of aspects of the Sovereign’s communications and relationship with Parliament more broadly, through Addresses and messages and the Palace of Westminster itself. It provides facts and figures relating to Queen Elizabeth II including: the number of Acts that have received Royal Assent during her reign, Addresses given by the Queen to both Houses in Westminster Hall, and the wording of Queen Elizabeth II’s first message to Parliament on her accession to the throne in 1952.