Welcome to the latest edition of Letter of the Lords the weekly newsletter aimed at shining a light into the

e work the partys peers are doing in the second chamber. Why not let us know what you think? Email the newsletter onlordsmedia@libdems.org.uk. And thats also the address to give to friends, colleagues and loved ones to sign up too. Plus dont forget to keep up to date with the blog at libdemlords.org.uk and follow us on Twitter @LibDemLords.

IN THE CHAMBER

A Private Members Bill granting legal rights to cohabiting couples when they break up or one partner dies was this week published by Lord Jonathan Marks. Last months federal party conference in Glasgow voted to adopt a motion calling for the implementation of the proposals made by the Law Commission in 2007 and 2011, giving cohabiting couples fair and reasonable redress. Lord Marks Cohabitation Rights Bill would bring in these legal rights for couples who live together for the first time. The number of couples in the UK cohabiting increased from less than 3m in 1996 to 5.9m last year. 38% have children. Lord Marks said: Increasing numbers of people are choosing to live together rather than getting married or having a civil partnership and they deserve fair treatment. For far too long nothing has been done to give cohabiting couples fair treatment when they break up or one partner dies. There is a widespread belief that couples who live together get some rights in law as so -called common-law spouses. But that is a complete myth. My Bill will bring in the Law Commissions proposals made in 2007 and 2011 to give couples who live together some legal rights. Under Lord Marks Bill, cohabiting couples would not be treated the same as married couples but would have some protection against being taken advantage of when their relationships break down and against being left destitute when one partner dies without a will. It received its first reading on Wednesday and was published the following day.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK I must admit that when I put all the papers on my dining room table to try to make head or tail of them, they occupied 10 feet of space, including the so-called explanatory documents. Lord Andrew Phillips takes his tape measure to the Financial Services Bill.

TWEET OF THE WEEK #AddaAWordRuinAMovie Things to do in Denver when you're dead hungry Baroness Liz Barker (@LizBarkerLords) takes a break from the Care Bill to join in the hashtag game of the week. Boom! Tish!

This weeks Government reshuffle saw changes to the partys team in the Lords, most notably with Baroness Susan Kramer being appointed Minister of State at the Department at the Department of Transport. The move means she is now the most senior Liberal Democrat woman in the Government. She made her ministerial debut on Thursday, answering debates on the quality of bus services and investment in the rail network in East Anglia. Another move saw Baroness Judith Jolly appointed a Government Whip in the Lords. Meanwhile, the size of the Lib Dem Lords group grew by three, with Baroness Olly Grender, Baroness Zahida Manzoor and Lord Ian Wrigglesworth all being introduced.

East Anglia is a quiet powerhouse of economic growth but has seen a woeful lack of investment in its rail infrastructure, Baroness Ros Scott told the Lords as she led a debate on the Governments plans. She said: Debates about connecting the English regions rarely focus on places like Norwich, Cambridge and Chelsmford. Nor is the contribution to the economy of London made by the tens of thousands who commute from the south of the region into London each day fully recognised.

Lord John Alderdice used a question on Syria to point out that the US and Turkey had stated that any settlement on the country would involve the removal of President Assad. He said: Given the UNSC decision, does the noble Baroness [Minister Baroness Warsi] accept that if he proceeds to dismantle chemical weapons and thus obey the one institution that the UN Security Council has agreed, it may be difficult to sustain that position?. The Minister said she could not anticipate a situation in which Assad remaining would be acceptable to the Syrian people.

And Lord John Lee accused successive governments of treating tourism as a Cinderella industry as he asked a question about its importance to the UK economy. Tourism was not mentioned in the manifestos of any of the parties at the last election, and as a result of the reshuffle, we are now on our ninth tourism minister in 10 years, he said. The Minister, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, described it as an important sector.

BEST OF THE BLOG This week on the Lib Dem Lords blog Baroness Ros Scott spoke about the woeful lack of investment in rail infrastructure in East Anglia, Lord Jonathan Marks outlined his Private Members Bill on cohabitation rights and Lord Roger Robertswrote exclusively about changes needed to the requirements for those who apply for UK citizenship or nationality.

WHATS COMING UP WEDNESDAY Lord Eric Avebury will ask the Government what further steps it will take to curb the late-night purchasing and consumption of alcohol. Lord John Sharkey will ask the Government for its assessment of the exclusion of those living in northern Cyprus from the benefits of the islands EU membership. Lord Jonathan Marks leads a debate on the proposed provisions for the supervision of offenders after the Governments reorganisation of the probation service. THURSDAY

Lord Derek Ezra to ask the Government whether it thinks there will be adequate energy supplies to meet the demand if next winter is as cold as the last one. Lord Roger Roberts will ask the Government about giving the vote to 16- and 17-year-olds. For more detailed information on what's coming up in the Lords, click here.

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