Access and the use of
facilities by members on leave of absence and disqualified members
1. In November 2014, the House considered access
and the use of facilities by members who retire under Section
1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014 and agreed that they should
be granted the same privileges as those afforded to retired bishops.[1]
2. We have now reviewed the access privileges
of some of the other categories of non-sitting or former members
with a view to rationalising them. The House agreed each of the
access rules and privileges at different times, and therefore
they reflect considerations at the time which are now less relevant.
For example, when leave of absence was introduced in the late
1950s it was with the aim of encouraging very infrequent attenders
to take leave of absence. Consequently the range of access rights
and privileges were more generous than might have been the case
if they were designed now.
3. We have considered four categories of members:
· Retired members, including retired bishops.
They have the access rights set out in paragraph two of our second
report to the House: a photo-identity pass; access to sit on the
steps of the Throne; use of the Library (though not the research
facilities); and access to the Peers' Guest Room, the Peers' Dining
Room with up to five guests and the Barry Room with up to six
guests.
· Hereditary members of the House who left
under the House of Lords Reform Act 1999. They have the same access
rights as retired members except that they are only able to use
the Peers' Dining Room once a month with up to three guests, on
which occasions they may also use the Peers' Guest Room.
· Members on Leave of Absence. They have
the same access rights as sitting members.
· Peers disqualified from the House while
they are an MEP or holder of a disqualifying judicial office (referred
to as "disqualified members" in this report). They have
the same access rights as sitting members.
4. We have reviewed access rules and privileges
in three areas: use of the Library research services and receipt
of Parliamentary papers; use of catering facilities; and access
privileges for spouses and civil partners.
Use of the Library Research Services
and Parliamentary Papers
5. Use of the Library research facilities and
the provision of paper copies of Parliamentary papers both have
a financial cost attached, and therefore ought to be confined
to supporting members in their Parliamentary duties.
6. As disqualified members and those on leave
of absence cannot participate in proceedings of the House there
is no obvious reason why they should need to use the Library research
facilities. Those members may have legitimate need to refer to
Parliamentary papers, either in the course of their duties or
to keep up with the work of the House with their return in mind.
However, as Parliamentary papers are now readily available online,
it would seem reasonable not to provide the option of receiving
paper copies at the House's expense.
7. We recommend that use of the Library research
facilities and the provision of Parliamentary papers should from
the end of the current Parliament no longer be available to members
on leave of absence and members who are MEPs or a holder of a
disqualifying judicial office.
Use of the catering facilities
8. At present there are no restrictions on the
use members on leave of absence or disqualified members may make
of the catering facilities. We propose that they should have the
same access to catering outlets as retired members. This would
exclude use of those outlets which are most focused on provision
for members in the course of their duties.
9. We recommend that members on leave of absence
and members who are MEPs or a holder of a disqualifying judicial
office should from the end of the current Parliament have access
to the same catering facilities on the same terms as retired members.
Access privileges for spouses
and civil partners
10. Spouses and civil partners of sitting members,
members on leave of absence and disqualified members may use the
Barry Room with up to six guests and the Peers' Dining Room with
up to five guests for tea. Such members may also apply for a ticket
to observe the State Opening for their spouse or civil partner.
11. The rationale for spouses' access rights
is that members may often be in the House for prolonged periods.
As such there seems little reason for the privileges to be extended
to spouses of those who are not currently sitting members. If
these privileges were withdrawn, it would not prevent spouses
from coming to the House as a guest of the member (or another
member) but they would not enjoy access in their own right or
be able to host guests.
12. We recommend that the access privileges
for spouses and civil partners of members should from the end
of the current Parliament not be extended to spouses and civil
partners of members who are on leave of absence or who are MEPs
or a holder of a disqualifying judicial office.
Summary
13. If the House agrees to the three recommendations
above, provision for the four categories of Member will be harmonised
(with the exception of the more limited access to the Peers' Dining
Room for hereditary members of the House who left under the House
of Lords Act 1999). For the avoidance of any doubt in the future,
we also recommend that Members who are expelled, suspended,
or cease to be a member under section 2 or section 3 of the House
of Lords Reform Act 2014 should not have any access rights.
1 2nd Report of Session 2014-15 (HL Paper 59) agreed
by the House on 25 November 2014. Back
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