Sir, To suggest, as the group of crossbench peers do (letter, July 16), that the White Paper An Elected Second Chamber: further reform of the House of Lords (July 14) is based on a false premise, because it seeks to show how the House of Commons votes in favour of either a wholly or an 80 per cent elected second chamber could be given effect, misses the point. The signatories acknowledge the primacy of the House of Commons, yet seem to be simultaneously denying that it has any relevance in determining how the Government should frame its policy proposals.

They also suggest that the Government has not addressed the implications of having a wholly or predominantly elected second chamber. That is not true — the Government and the crossparty group considered this carefully and concluded that primacy of the Commons did not rest primarily on the nature of membership of the House of Lords. It rests on the Parliament Acts, on the fact that the Government of the day is formed from the party or parties that can command a majority in the House of Commons, on Commons financial privilege and on the fact that the Prime Minister and most senior ministers are also drawn from the House of Commons.

The White Paper therefore provides a unique opportunity to create a more legitimate, effective and representative second chamber.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice

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