Written question asked by Gordon Prentice (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 March 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 March 2003. It was answered by Robin Cook (Labour) on Thursday, 13 March 2003 on behalf of the Leader of the House of Commons.

President of the Council;Leader of the House of Commons

Question: To ask the President of the Council, on what basis privy councillors are selected to sit on ad hoc committees of the Council.

Answer: Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Council on what basis privy councillors are selected to sit on ad hoc committees of the Council. [103043] Mr. Robin Cook: Nowadays such committees are established only to consider petitions from bodies seeking a Royal Charter. Their business is conducted in correspondence. Those involved in the correspondence are those Privy Counsellors with ministerial responsibility for the area of the body's activities and the Law Officers.

Secondary information