I KNOW it is hard to believe, but the roadworks at the junction between the North Circular Road and Fore Street are almost near completion.

The traffic may be flowing faster, with less noise and pollution, but I have not forgotten the needs of local pedestrians.

A pedestrian subway is now the only direct link from the North Middlesex Hospital to the other side.

Local residents, particularly the elderly, hospital outpatients and nursing staff are understandably concerned for their safety, and, as a result, are reluctant to use it.

I called an urgent meeting last Friday of all the interested parties – the Highways Agency, the police, Enfield Council, London Transport, the North Middlesex Hospital and community representatives to try to find a way forward.

Unfortunately a crossing at surface level is not possible for practical reasons, but there are other options, which together should mean a real improvement in pedestrian access to the hospital. Mirrors and CCTV in the tunnel will improve security and the hospital is considering taking responsibility for monitoring the cameras.

A dedicated bus service to the North Middlesex would considerable improve access for the local population and I am pressing hard for this.

As a result London Transport is proposing to re-route the 444 bus to pass the North Middlesex. A similar service already links part of Haringey to the hospital and I understand that this has been very successful.

Edmonton deserves no less – so watch this space!I hope that next year I am invited to go through the lobbies to support the abolition of the vote of hereditary peers.

I shall look on it as one of the supreme political moments of my life.

As I go through the lobby I shall echo the words of the Noble Baroness Lady Thatcher saying "rejoice rejoice, because great will be my reward somewhere if not in heaven.

I believe the members of the house who oppose the Government's point of view do not fully grasp the depth of feeling that members, who share my political view, have against the hereditary principle.

what is more, it is what it has meant in practice. If there was a text as regards what I am about to say it would be simply that "by their deeds shall ye know them."

We have heard a great deal from members on the opposite side of the argument to me, with which I cannot agree.

I believe it was the noble Lord St John of Fawsley, who said that the system works. I ask the question, for whom?

When one examines what it has meant in practice, I believe the hereditary peers have been digging their own grave for a very long time.

It will not be a uniform situation, of course. There are colleagues around the House who disagree with the Government from time to time.

But the evidence is quite clear. I refer to the use to which this house has been put by previous administrations during my time.

It was a great privilege to work in the Whips Office in both houses for more that 20 years.

Therefore, I take an interest in numbers. Despite the overwhelming disparity between the numbers on the labour benches and the Conservative benches over many years, that did not stop previous administrations under the noble Baroness Lady Thatcher and Mr John Major in the years 1979 to 1995 taking into account deaths and succession.

It increased the Conservative numbers by 33, while Labour numbers declined by 28. Over that period there was a disparity of 61 between the two parties.

The party opposite (Conservative) tries to maintain that that has been good for democracy. I trust we are all democrats and believe in democracy.

When I say "by their deeds shall ye know them", I should point out that from 1974 to 1979, the Labour government was defeated 343 times in the Lords, which is an average 69 times in a session.

From 1979 to 1996, the Tory government was defeated 231 times, which is an average 13 times in a session.

Of course that can be accidental. It can be something which is par for the course.

Indeed as other colleagues have said, it is something which means that the House of Lords works.

It certainly worked for the Tory party, although it does not work for others.

I have with me a facsimile of a card. It is a postcard depicting a poster which was produced by the Labour party in 1910.

It shows the House of Lords, and workers of the time, bashing at the door to break it down.

It says"Labour clears the way". What the Government has done tonight is to continue unfinished business. business which the party opposite had 20 years to stir and stimulate, but about which it decided to do nothing.

I repeat, when I am invited to go through the lobbies next year, I hope it will be fulfilling the destiny not of someone with 14 or 15 generations behind him but, in my case as someone following 14 or 15 years of the graham clan who were border reivers, and who have just as much right and entitlement to have their views expressed and heard in this house.

I shall support the Government in its policy.

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