HL Deb 01 June 1992 vol 537 cc711-2
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Ampthill)

My Lords, I beg to move the first Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.

Moved, That as proposed by the Committee of Selection the following Lords be named of the Select Committee on Broadcasting—

  • L. Aberdare (Chairman),
  • L. Allen of Abbeydale,
  • L. Bonham-Carter,
  • B. Eccles of Moulton,
  • L. Graham of Edmonton,
  • L. Mancroft,
  • L. Morris of Castle Morris,
  • B. Phillips,
  • E. Strathmore and Kinghorne,
  • L. Thomson of Monifieth.
That the Committee have power to adjourn from place to place and to report from time to time;

That two be the quorum of the Committee;

That the Committee have power to appoint specialist advisers.—(The Chairman of Committees.)

Baroness Phillips

My Lords, as we receive each year these magic lists of committee members and as I very foolishly volunteered for one of them—not this one; my Chief Whip very generously told me that I had been put on this one—I should like to know what mystery surrounds the selection of the Peers who sit on these committees from time to time.

Noble Lords

Ah!

The Chairman of Committees

My Lords, it seems that some Members of the House share the noble Baroness's point of view. There is no mystery attached to it at all. The Committee of Selection is appointed by the House and that committee makes the choice.

Baroness Phillips

My Lords, I should still like to ask what criteria are used when making the choice?

The Chairman of Committees

My Lords, I think that the committee does its very best to put round pegs into round holes.

Lord Wyatt of Weeford

My Lords, can the noble Lord say why the members of the committee have been selected? I ask that because they are well known to be favourable to the present set-up in broadcasting, whether it is ITV or BBC. There is a great deal of discontent about the operation of broadcasting. No one who dislikes the present structure has been included in the committee.

The Chairman of Committees

My Lords, I should have thought that a fair balance had been achieved by the Committee of Selection. However, if the noble Lord feels differently about that, perhaps we can speak about it at another time.

On Question, Motion agreed to.