1 Expulsion and suspension of members of the House of Lords

(1) Standing Orders of the House of Lords may make provision under which the House of Lords may by resolution—

(a) expel a member of the House of Lords, or

(b) suspend a member of the House of Lords for the period specified in the resolution.

(2) A person expelled by virtue of this section ceases to be a member.

(3) A person suspended by virtue of this section remains a member during the period of suspension, but during that period the person—

(a) is not entitled to receive writs of summons to attend the House of Lords, and

(b) despite any writ of summons previously issued to the person, is disqualified from sitting or voting in the House of Lords or a committee of the House of Lords.

(4) A resolution passed by virtue of subsection (1) must state that, in the opinion of the House of Lords, the conduct giving rise to the resolution—

(a) occurred after the coming into force of this Act, or

(b) occurred before the coming into force of this Act and was not public knowledge before that time.

2 Entitlement to receive writs of summons to attend House of Lords

In section 6 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014 (interpretation), after subsection (2)(c) insert—

“ (d) section 1(3) of the House of Lords (Expulsion and Suspension) Act 2015 (suspension). ”

3 Effect of ceasing to be a member

A person expelled in accordance with section 1 is to be treated as if that person had ceased to be a member in accordance with the House of Lords Reform Act 2014, for the purposes of section 4(2) to (8) of that Act.

4 Short title, commencement and extent

(1) This Act may be cited as the House of Lords (Expulsion and Suspension) Act 2015.

(2) This Act shall come into force at the end of the period of three months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

(3) This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.