'Couch potato peers' 115 Lords claim £1.3m 'despite not speaking for a year'
- 7 years ago
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'Couch potato peers' 115 Lords claim £1.3m 'despite not speaking for a year'
CAMPAIGNERS have criticised “couch potato peers” after new research suggested more than 100 claimed almost £1.3 million despite not speaking in the House of Lords for a year. ERS chief executive Darren Hughes said the data appeared to show a growing “something for nothing” culture. Labour former minister David Hanson added many peers are “lobby fodder” as he renewed calls for the Lords to be reformed, starting with the removal of hereditary peers. But a House of Lords spokesman said the ERS calculations were “undermined by their narrow focus on spoken contributions”. Mr Hughes said: “These figures are a damning indictment of the state of the House of Lords. “There appears to be a growing 'something for nothing' culture in our upper house, with tidy sums being claimed by those who barely contribute. “And there are a worrying number of couch potato peers and lobby fodder Lords at a time when there is plenty to scrutinise, ostensibly the upper chamber's role.” He added: “It's completely unacceptable that peers can claim thousands without even speaking or voting in the House, and it highlights the reality that there is no accountability for peers.” Mr Hanson, MP for Delyn, said: “Whether people speak or not, the Lords as it stands is no longer fit for purpose. This highlights the fact that many people are lobby fodder. “I have been pushing for the Government to remove the hereditary peers once and for all. It is plainly wrong that an individual is given the right to pass and amend laws and question the Government in parliament by accident of birth.
“We need people of merit in our legislature, not those who happen to be the great grandson of an earl.” ERS said its methodology remained the same as a similar 2015 study, in which brief interventions, written questions and answers, or attendance in committees by peers, were not taken into consideration when assessing the work done in return for a flat-rate attendance allowance of up to £300 for each sitting day. A House of Lords spokesman said: “The Electoral Reform Society's calculations are undermined by their narrow focus on spoken contributions. “Speaking in the chamber is only one of the ways members hold the Government to account and this research ignores members' contributions including amending legislation, asking the Government written questions and serving on select committees - more than 320 members served on committees in the last session of Parliament - as well as parliamentary work away from the chamber. “It is inaccurate to describe a House that tabled 5,608 amendments to legislation, asked Government 7,395 written questions and published 170 committee reports in 2016/17 as a 'part-time' House. The Lords is an active and effective revising chamber.” The ERS said it had chosen not to release the names of the peers who claimed expenses or allowances but had not spoken in the Lords chamber, as its aim was “not to name and shame - it's to show the problem is systemic”. . 00FastNews. Please Subscribe!
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'Couch potato peers' 115 Lords claim £1.3m 'despite not speaking for a year'
CAMPAIGNERS have criticised “couch potato peers” after new research suggested more than 100 claimed almost £1.3 million despite not speaking in the House of Lords for a year. ERS chief executive Darren Hughes said the data appeared to show a growing “something for nothing” culture. Labour former minister David Hanson added many peers are “lobby fodder” as he renewed calls for the Lords to be reformed, starting with the removal of hereditary peers. But a House of Lords spokesman said the ERS calculations were “undermined by their narrow focus on spoken contributions”. Mr Hughes said: “These figures are a damning indictment of the state of the House of Lords. “There appears to be a growing 'something for nothing' culture in our upper house, with tidy sums being claimed by those who barely contribute. “And there are a worrying number of couch potato peers and lobby fodder Lords at a time when there is plenty to scrutinise, ostensibly the upper chamber's role.” He added: “It's completely unacceptable that peers can claim thousands without even speaking or voting in the House, and it highlights the reality that there is no accountability for peers.” Mr Hanson, MP for Delyn, said: “Whether people speak or not, the Lords as it stands is no longer fit for purpose. This highlights the fact that many people are lobby fodder. “I have been pushing for the Government to remove the hereditary peers once and for all. It is plainly wrong that an individual is given the right to pass and amend laws and question the Government in parliament by accident of birth.
“We need people of merit in our legislature, not those who happen to be the great grandson of an earl.” ERS said its methodology remained the same as a similar 2015 study, in which brief interventions, written questions and answers, or attendance in committees by peers, were not taken into consideration when assessing the work done in return for a flat-rate attendance allowance of up to £300 for each sitting day. A House of Lords spokesman said: “The Electoral Reform Society's calculations are undermined by their narrow focus on spoken contributions. “Speaking in the chamber is only one of the ways members hold the Government to account and this research ignores members' contributions including amending legislation, asking the Government written questions and serving on select committees - more than 320 members served on committees in the last session of Parliament - as well as parliamentary work away from the chamber. “It is inaccurate to describe a House that tabled 5,608 amendments to legislation, asked Government 7,395 written questions and published 170 committee reports in 2016/17 as a 'part-time' House. The Lords is an active and effective revising chamber.” The ERS said it had chosen not to release the names of the peers who claimed expenses or allowances but had not spoken in the Lords chamber, as its aim was “not to name and shame - it's to show the problem is systemic”. . 00FastNews. Please Subscribe!
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Patients at risk of death as fewer people want to be doctors in NHS: http://youtu.be/dTZVTrJ0Mss
A grave error': Emmanuel Macron hits back at Trump over Iran nuclear deal: http://youtu.be/BOgQd5h8jyI
NIBIRU END OF THE WORLD? Could Nasa nuke Planet X to save Earth or is it too late?: http://youtu.be/yoPneDLXV9s
Hurricane Maria UPDATE: Spaghetti models show storm could BATTER America's East Coast: http://youtu.be/iXZThqsmB64
Hurricane Maria path update: What time will Hurricane Maria HIT Puerto Rico?: http://youtu.be/t_46eoE1hA8
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