Commonwealth

House of Lords written question – answered am ar 15 Medi 2011.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Lord Tebbit Lord Tebbit Ceidwadwyr

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 11 August (WA 392), whether the undertaking that "The Government would consult fully before making any decision on whether to support the admission of any further states" to the Commonwealth would entail that Parliament would be consulted; and in what manner they plan to do this.

Photo of Lord Howell of Guildford Lord Howell of Guildford Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) (International Energy Policy)

The Government would consult all key stakeholders, including relevant parliamentary groups. However, this is a foreign policy issue, and while a wide range of views would be taken into account, a decision on whether the UK would support the admission of any further states to the Commonwealth is a matter for my Right Honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary. There is no formal requirement to consult Parliament.

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House of Lords

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.

right honourable friend

When speaking in the House of Commons, an MP will refer to another MP of the same party who is a member of the Privy Council as "my Right Honourable Friend"