§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister if he will review the criteria used in formulating advice on appointments to the Privy Council. [62165]
§ The Prime MinisterMembership of the Privy Council is normally reserved for those who are involved in affairs of State and who have a close and confidential relationship with the Crown. In practice, this means those who have obtained high office in the executive or the judicial branches of the State either in this country or in one of the countries of which The Queen is Head of State. It follows that most new Privy Councillors are serving Ministers, Judges or Commonwealth appointments. I have no plans to review the criteria.