Last week saw some interesting divisions in the Lords, two or them on free votes where the parties were not trying to whip their members into line.

But in most divisions, fewer than 300 peers actually vote so it can sometimes be a bit of a lottery, particularly later in the evening.

The first of the free votes was on Tuesday when the former Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, moved an amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill to make it not illegal to accompany a person travelling to another country where assisted dying is not illegal in order to commit suicide.

As Lord Falconer pointed out, it is not a crime to travel abroad for this purpose. But it is at present a crime to travel with such a person.

But in the past seven years, 115 people have gone to Switzerland to die in this way and no-one has been prosecuted.

It’s been made topical by the campaigning of Diane Purdy. I could not be in London for that vote but I would have voted for Lord Falconer's amendment. Unfortun-ately it was lost by 194 to 141.

The next day I did help to vote through the second reading of the Parliamentary Standards Bill which sets up a new system for regulating allowances and conduct of MPs (but not Lords), and push through a timetable for holding the debates before the summer recess which starts next week.

An attempt by Tory peer Lord Norton of Louth to keep to the usual timetable would have delayed it all until the autumn. I voted with my party against his amendment, and we helped the Government win the vote by 110 to 88.

I missed the second free vote on Thursday (had to get back for Pendle Council’s Colne & District area committee!) which was about a ‘free speech clause’ relating to ‘hatred against persons on the grounds of sexual orientation’ proposed by the former Nelson and Colne and Ribble Valley MP Lord (David) Waddington.

The Government lost by 186 to 133 even though most Liberal Democrats voted with the Government.

I was in two minds on it. Having read the debate, I think I might have abstained anyway!