Reform of the House of Lords will depend on cross-party agreement on limiting its powers, Jack Straw, leader of the Commons, indicated yesterday. Mr Straw, who has been put in charge of the long-delayed completion of Lords reform, said he wanted a limit on the time for which the second chamber could hold up legislation while it debated amendments - possibly as little as 60 days.

A joint committee drawn from across the parties is considering how the traditions and conventions that govern relations between the houses can be made explicit. Mr Straw said an agreement on these matters should precede proposals on the composition of the Lords, which would probably come at the turn of the year.