House of Lords written question – answered at on 22 May 2007.
Lord Naseby
Conservative
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Home Office will take steps to ensure that the report from the Electoral Commission on the Scottish elections 2007 will definitely be available to Parliament before the Summer Recess.
Lord Evans of Temple Guiting
Government Whip, Government Whip
The Electoral Commission is required, under Section 5 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, to "prepare and publish (in such manner as the Commission may determine)" a report on the administration of the Scottish Parliament elections. It is, therefore, for the commission to determine when to publish this report, in accordance with its assessment of the task involved.
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.
