Peers who never utter a word in the British House of Lords

115 peers – one in seven – did not speak in a single debate during the latest parliamentary session (stock photo)

• But they still claimed an average of more than £11,000 each in expenses in the last parliamentary session

• Peers are entitled to claim a tax-free £300 daily allowance just for turning up

More than 100 peers claimed a total of almost £1.3million in expenses last year – despite never uttering a word in the House of Lords, a study reveals today.

It found that 115 peers – one in seven – did not speak in a single debate during the latest parliamentary session.

However they claimed an average of more than £11,000 each in expenses.

Peers are entitled to claim a tax-free £300 daily allowance just for turning up to the chamber and are not obliged to speak in debates, attend committees or ask written questions.

Those who live outside London are also entitled to claim travel expenses for journeys to Westminster.

Analysis of the Lords’ voting, speaking and expenses records by the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) showed that 115 peers did not take part in a debate during the 2016/17 parliamentary session, but claimed an average of £11,091 each over the course of the year. This equates to around £1.27million.

The report also found that more than £4million was claimed by the 277 peers – 36 per cent – who spoke five times or fewer in the past year.

Some £7.3million was claimed by 394 peers who spoke ten times or fewer, while 131 spoke and voted ten times or fewer but claimed £658,314.

Last night, campaigners warned that ‘couch-potato peers’ were enjoying an ‘expenses free-for-all’, with claims rising by 11 per cent in the past two years to £22.4million.

ERS chief executive Darren Hughes said: ‘There appears to be a growing something-for-nothing culture in our Upper House, with tidy sums being claimed by those who barely contribute. There are a worrying number of couch-potato peers and lobby-fodder Lords.

‘It’s completely unacceptable that peers can claim thousands without even speaking or voting in the House, and it highlights the reality that there is no accountability for peers.’

(The Mail, London)