People's Peers

HC Deb 11 December 2000 vol 359 c64W

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the President of the Council where people's peers will be placed in the order of precedence. [141540]

Mrs. Beckett

Those awarded peerages on the recommendation of the House of Lords Appointments Commission, like all peers, will take precedence from their rank, in this case as barons, and the date of their patent of creation.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the President of the Council how many and what percentage of applicants for a people's peerage are to be invited for interview. [141541]

Mrs. Beckett

This is a matter for the Appointments Commission. However, the number will be substantially smaller than the number of applicants because the Commission has made it clear that it is likely to call for interview only those it is considering recommending for appointment.