House of Lords

HC Deb 01 July 1999 vol 334 cc239-40W

Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the President of the Council what proposals she has for the composition of the electoral college for cross-bench peers in the Interim House of Lords; and if she will make a statement. [89194]

Mrs. Beckett

The Government will establish an independent Appointments Commission to nominate cross-bench peers to the transitional House of Lords. We set out our proposals for membership of the Commission in our White Paper, "Modernising Parliament Reforming the House of Lords". The Commission will be an advisory non-departmental public body consisting of representatives of the three main political parties and a majority of independent figures, one of whom will be the Chairman. The party political representatives will be nominated by party leaders, and the independent members will be appointed in accordance with the rules of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.