HOUSE OF LORDS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17701, 1 March 1923, Page 7

HOUSE OF LORDS.

ATTENDANCE OF PEERS. AN INTERESTING RETURN. (BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPrRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIA* AND X.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) i LONDON, February 27. An official return shows that 189 peers have never attended the House, of Lords, and that 222 have attended fewer than ten times. As the House of Commons diminishes in number—the Irish settlement has reduced its membership to 615 the House of Lords increases, says the "Morning Post." At the close, of 1922 the latter's actual voting strength was 716, being 101 more than the membership of the Commons. There are also 19 minor Peers entitled to sit on coming of ape, and 20 Peeresses in their own right, possessed of titles which would give male holders the right to sit in the House of Lords. The growth, of this House has been remarkable. In the first Parliament of Henry VII., only 29 temporal Peers received writs of summons; But until the suppression of tho monasteries by Henry VIII. in 1539, up to which date abbots and priors, as well as Bishops, also sat, the Lords Spiritual —now restricted to 26—greatly exceeded the Lords Temporal in number. In Queen Elizabeth's time the number of Peers had risen to 59. The Stuarts, profuse in their creations, raised the number to 150. William and Anne added 12. In Queen Anne's reign were also added, on the occasion of the Union of Parliaments in 1707, the 16 (still existing) Scottish Eepresentative Peers. The Georges, under the advice of their Ministers, made very numerous creations. George 111., in the first ten years of his reign, added 42. By 1801, Pitt, during the seventeen years of his Administration, had created or promoted 140 Peers. Ho, too, introduced the 28 Irish Representative Peers (still existing and life appointments), and representation of Irißh Bishops, now no longer eligible. By 1860 the membership had risen to 460. The year 1922 ended with a potential membership, including minors, and tho Peeresses already referred to, of 755. There were fourteen new creations in 1922, as against fiftoen in 1921. Four became extinct. Promotions -in rank were received by four Peers. The Scottish Representative Peers, Who at tlnr close of 1921 were 13 only, are now 16. Two Peers have attained majority and two of _ tho newly-succeeded Peers are minors. This increases the number of Peers ontitled to sit from 701 to 716. TwentyBix Peers died in 1922, of whom 24 sat in the House of Lords. Two were Irish Peers who did not sit. At the! end of the year 755 Peerages carried potential seats in the Upper House. These are made up as under. The figures are compiled from tho frades which carry right to sit. Many cottish and Irish Peers are of higher rank than that by which they are hero tabulated. * ✓ 00 ■j g § jig os 9 •« b* 3 fc. Peerß of tho Blood Royal 3 Archbishops •.. • • 2 Dukes .. ..,20 ,1. —- Duchesß .» •. 1 ~7 * Marquesses ..i •• 30 2. Earls .. .... 154 87Countesses •• ®~Z Viscounts .. >»•' 71 3 Viscountesses • • 2—2 Bishops «■ 24 •Barons .. •• "7Z Baronesses .. 15 755 19 20 Deduct Peeresses and Minor Peers ■ 3" Entitlod to vote • • 716 In addition to the above, there are 20 Peers of Scotland and 1 53 Peers of Ireland, and also 11 Bishops of the I Church of England. There are .24 I seats for 35 Bishops. , Of these, the Bishops of- London, Durham, and Wini Chester always sit. Tl\e remaining Bishops enter the House, as vacancies occur, in. order of Consecration.