Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministerial Statement

Secretaries of State in the House of Lords: Commons Scrutiny

25 January 2024 · 5 other contributors

Opened by Karen Bradley Con Staffordshire Moorlands

Parliamentary Procedure

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Karen Bradley raised concerns about secretaries of state in the house of lords: commons scrutiny in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • The Minister for Digital and Culture made a statement regarding the Procedure Committee report on Lords Secretaries of State accountability.
  • Almost nine out of ten respondents to the survey wanted increased scrutiny in the Commons.
  • The report recommends that Secretaries of State sitting in the House of Lords should be subject to more direct accountability measures.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Government Statement

Karen Bradley

The Minister for Digital and Culture made a statement on the Procedure Committee report examining how to provide more direct accountability of Lords Secretaries of State in Commons proceedings. She thanked colleagues who responded to surveys and submitted evidence, noting that almost nine out of ten respondents wanted more scrutiny in the Commons, including departmental questions, urgent questions, and statements. The report recommends that Secretaries of State sitting in the House of Lords should participate in these activities from the Bar of the House rather than the Dispatch Box for the remainder of this Parliament. The recommendation aims to address immediate concerns without setting a precedent for future appointments. The minister emphasised the importance of elected MPs questioning the Foreign Secretary directly, given their responsibility to represent constituents' interests.

Other contributors (5)
  • Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth

    Question

    Following yesterday's debate on UK military action in the Red Sea without a retrospective vote, does she think Lord Carrington’s precedent could inform current scrutiny practices?

    Minister reply

    The report did not deal with whether votes are required for military actions. However, during the Falklands conflict, a deputy Foreign Secretary was appointed to sit in this House.

  • William Wragg

    Question

    Does she assure Members that the proposals in the report are deeply wedded in tradition, as seen with the Duke of Wellington's appearance at the Bar of the House?

    Minister reply

    The committee adhered to historical precedent, including the example of the Duke of Wellington’s appearance in 1814.

  • Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington

    Question

    Has she had any indication from the Government that they will accept the Committee’s recommendations? What is the expected timescale for agreement?

    Minister reply

    The report was published recently, and no response has been received yet. The process requires the agreement of the House of Lords, which may take some time.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Question

    Does the Committee believe that accountability in this House is a priority and that constituents deserve it?

    Minister reply

    The committee agreed that there was a democratic deficit if Commons proceedings could not raise concerns on behalf of constituents. The report aims to ensure proper scrutiny of FCDO work, particularly given today's global challenges.

Shadow Comment

Richard Foord

The shadow Minister highlighted yesterday's debate on UK military action in the Red Sea without a retrospective vote. He questioned whether Lord Carrington’s precedent, where he resigned during the Falklands war for not anticipating an invasion, could inform current scrutiny practices. The response indicated that at the time of the Falklands conflict, a deputy Foreign Secretary was appointed to sit in this House to address accountability issues.

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