Reformed Lords may cost £153m more

The House of Lords will cost £153 million more per five-year parliament under the Government's reform plans, it has been revealed.

The annual runnings costs of the new-look mainly elected second chamber would rise by £13.6 million by 2025, when the changes are due to be fully-implemented.

Elections at the start of each parliament, beginning in 2015, would cost an additional £85.7 million a time, according to official estimates. There would also be a £3.8 million publicity drive ahead of the first elections.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that the costs would be covered by savings made from reducing the size of the House of Commons.

"If you take account of all the other changes we are making in the Houses of Parliament over this parliament the reform will lead to less expenses to the taxpayer," he said.

"From a taxpayers' point of view what is important is the subsidy they are giving to politicians and that will be less not more."

Mr Clegg said the Government was also taking "quite tough" measures to keep costs down, with members of the reformed chamber having no pensions or constituency offices and fewer staff.

"What I'm saying is the cost of politics goes down," he said.

The costs were published alongside the long-awaited and highly divisive House of Lords Reform Bill.

In a concession to critics, ministers have scrapped plans for a salary of about £60,000 for members of the new Upper House. The Government instead wants them to be paid £300 for each day they attend - a maximum of about £45,000 a year.

©Press Association