HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

Access to the facilities of the House
1.30 Members of the House who are on leave of absence, or who are
disqualified from participation in the proceedings of the House as
Members of the European Parliament or as judges, 1 enjoy access to the
following facilities:
(a) they may apply for places for their spouses at the State Opening
of Parliament, and the usual number of places at such functions as
The Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour);
(b) they may use the Library, the Dining Room, and other facilities of
the House outside the Chamber, and may obtain tickets for the
Public Gallery. Their spouses enjoy the same facilities as the
spouses of other members of the House;
(c) they may sit on the steps of the Throne during a sitting of the
House;
(d) they may receive parliamentary papers.
1.31 Retired bishops are entitled to sit on the steps of the Throne and
use the facilities of the House outside the Chamber. 2
1.32 Rights of access enjoyed by members who are suspended from
the service of the House are cancelled for the duration of the suspension.
Members who are suspended may not enter the parliamentary estate,
including as guests of other members. 3
Tax status
1.33 All members of the House who are entitled to receive writs of
summons to attend the House are treated as resident, ordinarily resident
and domiciled in the United Kingdom for the purposes of certain taxes. 4
Notification of death of member
1.34 The Lord Speaker informs the House of the death of a member of
the House, before the first oral question. 5 The Lord Speaker’s
1 House Committee 2nd Rpt 2008–09.
2 Offices 4th Rpt 1970–71.
3 House Committee minutes, 19 May 2009.
4 s. 41 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.
5 Procedure 1st Rpt 2006–07.
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