Woolsack 1938, it was discovered that the Woolsack was, in fact, stuffed with horsehair. When the Woolsack was remade it was re-stuffed with wool from all over the Commonwealth as a symbol of unity. The Lord Speaker may speak from the Woolsack when speaking in his or her capacity as Speaker of the House, but must, if he or she seeks to debate, deliver his or her remarks either from the left side of the Woolsack, or from the normal seats of the Lords. If a Deputy Speaker presides in the absence of the Lord Speaker, then that individual uses the
Members of the House of Lords have died since December 2017: In addition to the hereditary peers excluded under the House of Lords Act 1999 and retired Lords Spiritual, there are a number of peers who have permanently ceased to be members of the House. Under section 1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014, peers may permanently retire or otherwise resign their membership of the House. The following peers have exercised that right since the Act came into force in August 2014 and are either still living or have died since December 2017: Additionally, the following peers elected to retire from the House of