House of Lords flawed, but it is still better than Holyrood committee system

After Monday night’s tax credit debate I can’t be alone in noticing the irony of normally virulent opponents of the House of Lords falling over themselves to praise it. This excellent debate featured people with real ability, experience and genuine interest in the common good, sustained – protected even – by hundreds of years of protocol, convention and opaque rules.

As a revising chamber it undoubtedly needs reforming, but I couldn’t help contrasting this with the Scottish Parliament committee system which seems toothless, lacking ability, and would have caved in under SNP pressure in a situation like Monday night’s, as it always has in the past eight years.

Allan Sutherland

Willow Row, Stonehaven

A rather large attendance of 550 unelected peers attended the House of Lords on Monday due to a rather contentious matter being on the agenda, that of the future of tax credits for millions of hard-working families in our country. Pleased as I was with the outcome, I could not help myself as I contemplated the undivided country we live in.

Those 550 unelected peers, drooling over benefit payments for millions, can each claim a whopping £300 per day for the privilege of attending this debate, a whopping £170,000 bill to the taxpayers.

Surely the time has come for a complete root and branch reform or complete abolition of the House of Lords.

Catriona C Clark

Hawthorn Drive, Falkirk