Constitution Committee (Hansard, 8 February 2001)

§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)
My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.
Moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to examine the constitutional implications of all public Bills coming before the House; and to keep under review the operation of the constitution;
That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following Lords be named of the Committee:

L. Acton,

V. Cranborne,

L. Fellowes,

L. Holme of Cheltenham,

B. Howells of St. Davids,

L. Lang of Monkton,

E. Mar and Kellie,

L. Morgan,

L. Norton of Louth (Chairman),

L. Ponsonby of Shulbrede,

L. Weatherill,

B. Young.

That the Committee have power to appoint specialist advisers;
That the Committee have power to adjourn from place to place;
That the Committee have leave to report from time to time.—(The Chairman of Committees.)

§ Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe
My Lords, I do not wish to weary the House again with my views on specialist advisers, but as the recently set-up Joint Committee on Human Rights has now met, may I ask the Chairman of Committees whether it has made any moves on the appointment of specialist advisers and, if so, who are they and where are they from?

§ The Chairman of Committees
My Lords, the legal adviser to the Joint Committee on Human Rights is 1270 Professor David Feldman, who is a full-time member of the staff of this House, shared with the House of Commons. As far as I know, the Joint Committee has not appointed any other adviser.

§ Lord Lester of Herne Hill
My Lords, is the Chairman of Committees aware that the committee, of which I am privileged to be a member, is very pleased that someone of Professor Feldman's quality has been appointed as legal adviser? He is outstanding.