§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to refer all recommendations for a peerage to the House of Lords Appointments Commission; and if he will make a statement. [260]
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§ The Prime MinisterIt is my normal policy to do so. However, we have always made it clear that in relation to party political peers, the Appointments Commission was taking over the role formerly fulfilled by the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee. It was never the custom that appointments to the Lords to enable someone to take up ministerial office should be subject to scrutiny by that Committee. I have also decided, after consultation with the House of Lords Appointments Commission, that a limited number of holders of very high office may be recommended direct to the Queen by me.