New proposals to reform the House of Lords that could see Church of England bishops retain their privileged status have been announced by Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

Constitutional arrangements currently grant 26 Church of England bishops the right to sit in the Upper House, including the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the Bishops of London, Durham and Winchester.

The Ministry of Justice White Paper was announced on Monday but steps to implement the reforms are not expected to be made before the next general election.

The British Humanist Association protested the plans, saying there should be no reserved places for bishops in a reformed House of Lords.

"In March 2007 the House of Commons voted then for a wholly elected second chamber, and for a mainly elected second chamber and rejected all other alternatives by a large margin," Mr Straw said on Monday.

"Their Lordships took a different view and voted for a fully appointed second chamber and rejected all other alternatives by a large margin.

"The White Paper sets out how a wholly or mainly elected second chamber might be created within a bicameral legislature in which the House of Commons retains primacy."