Contributors: Nicholas D. J. Baldwin, David Beamish, R. L. Borthwick, Jenny Brock, Gavin Drewry, Elizabeth Flood, Cliff Grantham, David Jones, David Miers, Douglas Millar, David Natzler, Michael Rush, Donald Shell

When reform or abolition of the House of Lords is discussed assertions are frequently made about the relative value of its work; yet there has been little scholarly study of what it actually does.

This book is the first to offer a systematic and comprehensive analysis of one complete session. Written by a team of senior academics and officers of both Houses of Parliament, it evaluates every aspect of the activity of the House, including its membership, the treatment of legislation, debates and questions, and select committee work, and contains detailed statistics of sittings and divisions.

This thorough and authoritative account will be essential reading for all serious students of the British Parliament, and for all who wish to enter the debate about the future of the House of Lords.