Way back in 1997 there was talk of cropping the hereditary members down to 92. I have a few questions about this action. Who started it, was it the incoming Blair administration or was it a plan from somewhere else? Also, what ever came of it? Did it succeed, or was it basically changed and altered into nothing? Any information would be very helpful. Thank you very much.
The reform you refer to, which removed all but 92 of the hereditary peers, was a modification of the original plans of the new Labour Government elected in 1997. Labour had wanted to abolish all the hereditaries but was forced to compromise. Hence the temporary retention of the 92 hereditaries. The amended reform was implemented in 1999. The Lords official website gives the details.
http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199798/ldbrief/ldreform.htm
See also
http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1999/19990034.htm
Earlier this year Labour published proposals for the second stage of Lords reform, which would create a second chamber which was part nominated and part elected. This was greeted with almost universal criticism, mainly on the grounds that such a chamber would not be democratic enough.
And this gives a concise summary of the recent White Paper.
http://www.politicallinks.co.uk/politics/Bulletin/Stop%20Press/House%20of%20Lords.stm