House of Lords: Membership - continued

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NOTES AND ABBREVIATIONS

Abp.
Bp.
P.
D.
M
E.
Archbishop
Bishop
Prince
Duke
Marquess
Earl 		C.
V.
L.
B.
Ly. 		Countess
Viscount
Baron/Lord
Baroness
Lady

Parts II and III

The first column to the right of the title column gives the lord's party affiliation. Party allegiance is shown for those in receipt of a party whip. This information is supplied by the Whips' offices. For the purposes of this list those independent peers who have notified the Convenor of the Cross-Bench Peers are shown as "Cross-Benchers". The following abbreviations are used:

Con Conservative Lab Labour
Dem Liberal Democrat XB Cross-Bench (see below)

The next column shows the number of days on which the lord attended the House during session 1997-98. There were 79 sitting days during that session. An asterisk (*) against the attendance indicates that the lord took his seat or was introduced into the House either during the course of session 1997-98 (and, therefore, his maximum possible attendance was restricted) or during the current session. Attendances for judicial or formal business, select committee meetings and on swearing in days are not included in the totals. As the attendances are counted before the time limit for claiming attendance has expired, it is possible that totals for some lords will be lower than their actual number of attendances. Peers who have died since 18.10.96 are listed separately.

The next column indicates which type of peerage the lord holds. The following abbreviations are used:

    H a hereditary peer by succession - i.e. a peer who has inherited a peerage (or has successfully claimed a dormant/abeyant hereditary title).
    Cr `a created peer' - i.e. a peer whose peerage has been created in their own lifetime. Such a lord is most likely to have been given a life peerage in one of the periodical honours lists (and will be shown as CrL in this column). He may have been given a life peerage (under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act) in order to enable him to become a law lord and hear appeals to the House of Lords from the Courts (in which case he will be shown as CrA in this column). Alternatively, he may have had a hereditary peerage bestowed upon him (a hereditary peer of first creation, CrH in this column).
    Bp a Lord spiritual - i.e. one of 26 anglican bishops and archbishops.

The final column indicates the following:

    O The lord has not taken the Oath of Allegiance in this Parliament. A lord who has not taken the Oath may not sit, speak or vote in the House.
    A The lord is on Leave of Absence. A lord on Leave of Absence is expected not to attend the House.

Note:

    Certain peers have more than one type of peerage. For the purposes of this list they are treated as follows:

    Cranborne, V. - sits in the Lords by virtue of having been given a Writ in Acceleration in his father's Barony (of Cecil). He is treated as a hereditary peer by succession with the rank of a Viscount.

    Crawford and Balcarres, E. - was created Lord Balniel (a life peerage) and subsequently inherited the Earldom of Crawford and Balcarres. He is treated as a hereditary peer by succession with the rank of an Earl.

    Hailsham of Saint Marylebone, L., Hartwell, L., and Selkirk of Douglas, L. - have disclaimed hereditary titles and sit in the Lords by virtue of their life peerages. They are treated as life peers with the rank of a Baron.

    Longford, E. - is known by his higher Irish title but sits in the Lords by virtue of having been created Lord Pakenham. He is accordingly treated as a peer of first creation, with the rank of an Earl.

    Younger of Leckie, V. - was created Lord Younger of Prestwick (a life peerage) and subsequently inherited the Viscountcy of Younger of Leckie. He is treated as a hereditary peer with the rank of a Viscount.

 
© Parliamentary copyright 1999
Updated: 1 October 1999