§ Baroness Noakesasked the Leader of the House:
Whether there are any circumstances in which a Member of the House of Lords may refuse to appear before a Select Committee of the House of Commons; and, if so, what are those circumstances. [HL1842]
§ The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)House of Lords Standing Order 25 states:
"Any Lord requested by a Committee appointed by the Commons to attend as a witness before it or before any Sub-Committee appointed by it shall have the leave of this House to attend, if his Lordship thinks fit."
Therefore, a Member of the House of Lords is free to judge whether to accept an invitation to appear before a Select Committee of the House of Commons.