Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Strathclyde (Conservative). It was answered on Wednesday, 23 April 2008.

House of Lords: Appointments Commission

Question: My Lords, this week the Appointments Commission announced that three more Cross-Bench Peers would be created. You had to look quite hard to find the announcement—but one was made, none the less. Who decides on the timing of these creations? Does not the Prime Minister have a very important role to play in issuing guidelines on the disposition of the numbers of independent Cross-Benchers and Members from other parties? What are these guidelines and does the Prime Minister take his role seriously?

Answer: My Lords, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister takes his role very seriously. There are three new appointees, whom I am sure we will look forward to welcoming to your Lordships' House. In discussing the future role of the commission, we will have to think about how best this has worked up to now, and to congratulate the commission on the quality of the people who have joined us on the Cross Benches, which we have benefited from enormously. In the broader context of the working group and the future of the House of Lords, we will need to consider further with the commission how best to take forward the numbers and timing of such appointments.

Secondary information