On Tuesday 12 July 2005 the House agreed to a motion to resolve "That this House should elect its own presiding officer". The motion also provided "That a Select Committee on the Speakership of the House be appointed to consider further how to implement this resolution with full regard to the Houses tradition of self-regulation." and named the following members:
Lord Lloyd of Berwick (Chairman) Lord Ampthill Lord Carter Bishop of Chelmsford Lord Desai Lord Freeman Baroness Gould of Potternewton Lord Higgins Lord Marsh Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer Lord Tordoff Lord Trefgarne
The Committee was required to report by 20 December 2005. It held its final meeting on 13 December 2005 and the Speakership of the House of Lords Report with Evidence was published on Monday 19 December 2005. The report was approved by the House on 31 January 2006. The motion agreed to on 31 January provided for the first election to be held no later than the end of June 2006.
The House of Lords elected Baroness Hayman as its first Lord Speaker on 4 July 2006.