Royal Commissions and Committees of Inquiry Appointments (Hansard, 6 March 2001)

HL Deb 06 March 2001 vol 623 cc19-20WA 19WA

§ The Earl of Shrewsbury
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Lord Chancellor, when consulted under Chapter 4, paragraph 50 of the Ministerial Code about the suitability of a judicial or legal appointment to a Royal Commission or independent committee of inquiry, or when undertaking an approach on behalf of a department, is expected to disclose if he is aware that the person he is recommending has contributed to the Labour Party. [HL924]
20WA

§ The Lord Chancellor
No. I would not, in the ordinary course, know about donations to any political party, nor, were I to come to know, would I ever taken such a fact into account. My advice on such matters is based solely on the potential appointee's merits for the task proposed.