House of Lords written statement – made at on 8 June 2009.
Lord McKenzie of Luton
Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Communities and Local Government) (also in Department for Work and Pensions), Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions) (also in the Department for Communities and Local Government)
I am delighted to announce that later today the UK will ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York. In addition, we aim to start the parliamentary process for ratification of the optional protocol to the convention shortly.
There are an estimated 650 million disabled people in the world, including over 10 million in the UK. The UN convention is a powerful and explicit statement that they have—and must be able to enjoy on an equal basis—the same human rights as others. The convention is therefore a very significant landmark, both for disabled people and for Government and society as whole.
Ratification of the convention is further demonstration of the Government's commitment to equality of human rights for disabled people, and of our determination to achieve equality by 2025.
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.
