Sir, I disagree entirely with Lord Howe of Aberavon’s letter (Feb 12). The Government has always sought to preserve the breadth and depth of experience and expertise within the second chamber but strongly believes that its composition must change in order for it to maintain its legitimacy in our modern democracy. The Government’s intention is to formulate a comprehensive reform package to which the political parties are committed. This is supported by the leadership of all main parties. People will have an opportunity to influence final decisions when the Government publishes the White Paper this year.
Both the Green Paper Governance of Britain and the Prime Minister’s statement made it clear that the Government is committed to enacting the will of the House of Commons as expressed in the free votes held in March last year.
It is our intention that elections to the second chamber and the terms of its members would be considerably different to those of the House of Commons. Long terms, electing members in stages, a different electoral system, the timing of elections and other measures are all possible ways of creating a distinction between the membership of the two Houses of Parliament and preserving the primacy of the House of Commons.
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After the vote in the House of Commons last March, we now have a great opportunity to move forward with reform to create a second chamber fit for a 21st-century democracy.
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice