Loud male peers are being urged to pipe down in the Lords so female colleagues can get a word in during debates.
The Upper Chamber is generally far more sedate and civilised than the Commons which can often descend into rowdy, party political exchanges of verbal blows.
The level of debate in the Lords, with many experts on a range of topics from law and order, science, education, health, Parliament and relations with the European Union, is also generally seen as more elevated and constructive.
But all is not well, certainly in the eyes of some peers.
During a recent debate on House of Lords behaviour and courtesy, veteran Labour parliamentarian Lord Campbell-Savours demanded reforms.
“My Lords, having participated remotely in proceedings over three years, I have been able to observe from afar the conduct of Members,” he explained.
“Do Members not realise how appalling the House appears to a worldwide audience when Peers, who include some of the brightest people in the land, openly argue, protest, shout across the Chamber and demand who should be called, in an attempt to control contributions?
“We cannot go on like this; it looks awful.”
Calling for a committee of the House to consider giving the Speaker greater powers to intervene, he stressed: “The current arrangements demean our reputation. We have a problem and it needs sorting.”
Leader of the Lords Baroness Smith of Basildon accepted that at times exchanges got heated but doubted it was such an issue that the move being proposed by Lord Campbell-Savours was necessary.
“Nothing is more undignified and disrespectful to colleagues than when others shout so that those with the loudest voices get heard,” she emphasised.
“I have to say, I do not think it happens that often. I am not really encouraged to set up a new committee.”
Her view was shared by the Tory shadow Leader of the House Lord True who said: “This House is a courteous House...I think it remains a courteous House.”
But as the short debate drew to a close, Baroness Smith had one more point to make: “If I can just inject something else here, quite often noble Lords have much louder voices than our female Members of the House.
“It might be a bit thoughtful sometimes if noble Lords would give way to those who do not have such loud voices.”
There was no suggestion that she had in mind any of the peers taking part in the debate on behaviour and courtesy.
But seven male peers spoke in it, and just two female colleagues.
Hereditary peers may be on their way out of the Upper Chamber, but societal progress is often slower in the Lords than in the Commons.
