BACKGROUND INFORMATION areas of everyday life such as welfare, health and The House of Lords is the second chamber of the education. UK Parliament. It is independent from, and Investigating issues complements the work of, the elected House of Members use their extensive individual Commons. The Lords and its members, experience to debate public policy. Much of commonly called peers, shares the task of making this work is done in select committees which and shaping laws and checking and challenging are small groups appointed to consider specific the work of the government. policy areas. In 2010-2012, House of Lords select committees produced 73 reports on What does the Lords do? The Lords has three main roles: subjects including economic affairs, European Questioning and challenging powers and advances in science. Many select Members of the Lords scrutinise the work of committee meetings involve questioning experts the government during question time and working in the field which is the subject of the debates in the chamber, where government inquiry. These meetings are open to the public. ministers must respond. In the 2010-2012 What has the work of the Lords parliamentary sessions, members held the impacted upon? government to account with 18,162 oral and written questions and 273 debates on issues Some useful examples of significant ranging from the economy to nursing. Parliamentary work the House of Lords has been Shaping and making laws involved in recent years include: Members spend nearly 60 % of their time in introducing civil remedies for victims or the considering Bills (draft laws).All Bills potential victims of forced marriages have to be considered by both Houses of Parlia- ensuring children with special educational ment before they can become law. In the 2010- needs have the same legal protection in 2012 session, members checked 80 Bills on is- academies as sues ranging from child poverty to in other mainstream schools immigration. They considered 10,031 changes making sure the UK has leading stem and 49 Bills became laws. During several cell research facilities stages, members examine each Bill, ensuring that women are treated more fairly by before it becomes an Act of Parliament the state pension system. (actual law). Many of these Bills cover crucial How 11
BACKGROUND INFORMATION The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK Parliament. It is independent from, and complements the work of, the elected House of Commons. The Lords and its members, commonly called peers, shares the task of making and shaping laws and checking and challenging the work of the government. What does the Lords do? The Lords has three main roles: Questioning and challenging Members of the Lords scrutinise the work of the government during question time and debates in the chamber, where government ministers must respond. In the 2010-2012 parliamentary sessions, members held the government to account with 18,162 oral and written questions and 273 debates on issues ranging from the economy to nursing. Shaping and making laws Members spend nearly 60 % of their time in the considering Bills (draft laws).All Bills have to be considered by both Houses of Parlia- ment before they can become law. In the 2010- 2012 session, members checked 80 Bills on is- sues ranging from child poverty to immigration. They considered 10,031 changes and 49 Bills became laws. During several stages, members examine each Bill, before it becomes an Act of Parliament (actual law). Many of these Bills cover crucial areas of everyday life such as welfare, health and education. Investigating issues Members use their extensive individual experience to debate public policy. Much of this work is done in select committees which are small groups appointed to consider specific policy areas. In 2010-2012, House of Lords select committees produced 73 reports on subjects including economic affairs, European powers and advances in science. Many select committee meetings involve questioning experts working in the field which is the subject of the inquiry. These meetings are open to the public. What has the work of the Lords impacted upon? Some useful examples of significant Parliamentary work the House of Lords has been involved in recent years include: introducing civil remedies for victims or potential victims of forced marriages ensuring children with special educational needs have the same legal protection in academies as in other mainstream schools making sure the UK has leading stem cell research facilities ensuring that women are treated more fairly by the state pension system. How 11
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