– in the House of Commons at on 6 December 1920.
Mr John Clynes
, Manchester Platting
May I ask the Leader of the House what items of business the Government intend to try to complete before the House rises to-night?
Mr Bonar Law
, Glasgow Central
We hope to take the first eight Orders and, if there be any time, to proceed with Supplementary Estimates.
Mr John Mills
, Dartford
Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us if we are likely to have Christmas Day off?
Mr Bonar Law
, Glasgow Central
I hope so. It will depend more on the House than on the Government.
Mr Joseph Devlin
, Belfast Falls
Will the right hon. Gentleman say, in view of the action of the House of Lords in regard to the so-called Home Rule Bill, whether the Bill will now be dropped?
Mr Bonar Law
, Glasgow Central
It is not called a "so-called" Home Rule Bill, but the Government of Ireland Bill. It will not be dropped?
Mr Noel Billing
, Hertford
Are we to understand that the House is not likely to adjourn before Christmas?
Mr Bonar Law
, Glasgow Central
No, it would be a mistake to assume that.
The house of Lords is the upper chamber of the Houses of Parliament. It is filled with Lords (I.E. Lords, Dukes, Baron/esses, Earls, Marquis/esses, Viscounts, Count/esses, etc.) The Lords consider proposals from the EU or from the commons. They can then reject a bill, accept it, or make amendments. If a bill is rejected, the commons can send it back to the lords for re-discussion. The Lords cannot stop a bill for longer than one parliamentary session. If a bill is accepted, it is forwarded to the Queen, who will then sign it and make it law. If a bill is amended, the amended bill is sent back to the House of Commons for discussion.
The Lords are not elected; they are appointed. Lords can take a "whip", that is to say, they can choose a party to represent. Currently, most Peers are Conservative.
