Pomp and pageantry are not the only elements of the House of Lords that are under threat. Hereditary peers could soon be thrown out too.

The British Government has set up a Cabinet committee to look at the options for changing the second chamber of the oldest democracy in the world.

Do hereditary peers have a moderating effect on British political decisions or are they an undemocratic anachronism?

The BBC's Joshua Rozenburg on location (Dur:1' 25")

At present there are 1,246 members of the House of Lords. 759 are hereditary peers and 487 life peers (including 26 Law Lords). There are 16 female hereditary peers and 82 female life peers.

Political affiliations:
490 Conservatives
143 Labour
59 Liberal Democrats
322 independent of parties

By no means all eligible peers attend Parliament. In the parliamentary session from October 1996 to April 1997, only a quarter of eligible peers attended two-thirds of the 79 sessions.

The new Cabinet committee will consider the three main options for reforming the membership of the second chamber:

• Making the chamber wholly elected
• Making the chamber wholly nominated
• A combination of the two

What could be more independant and act as a check/balance on the Commons then a non elected body like the Lords? They have no axe to grind, no 'career' to foster...
Martin Pearmain, Australia

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