HC Deb 03 February 2000 vol 343 c726W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the President of the Council if she will place in the Library the instructions and terms of reference of the contract placed with PricewaterhouseCoopers to advise on persons suitable for membership of the second chamber. [107620]

Mrs. Beckett

PricewaterhouseCoopers Executive Search and Selection have not been employed to advise on persons suitable for membership of the second chamber. They have been employed to assist in the recruitment of the Chairman and three independent members of the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

The invitation to tender document sent to PricewaterhouseCoopers by the Cabinet Office included relevant passages from the White paper 'Modernising Parliament Reforming the House of Lords', a draft remit of the Appointments Commission and a draft job and person specification. PricewaterhouseCoopers used this document as the starting point of their work.

I have placed a copy of the 'invitation to tender' document and the standard terms and conditions of the Cabinet Office in the Library.