I have today published the Government response to the report of the Joint Committee on Conventions: “Government Response to the Joint Committee on Conventions Report of Session 2005-06: Conventions of the UK Parliament” (Cm 6997).

On behalf of the Government, I should like to register my gratitude to my right hon. and noble Friend, Lord Cunningham of Felling, and his colleagues on the Joint Committee for all their work.

The Government accept the Joint Committee's analysis of the effect of all the conventions, and the Committee's recommendations and conclusions. The Government believe that further reform should not alter the current role of the House of Lords as a revising and scrutinising Chamber, or its relationship with the Commons. The relationship and conventions identified by the Joint Committee therefore should apply to any differently composed chamber.