HC Deb 10 March 2000 vol 345 cc825-6W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the President of the Council when she expects to appoint the chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. [112813]

Mrs. Beckett

A five-strong selection panel chaired by the Secretary of the Cabinet, Sir Richard Wilson, and including an independent assessor will determine the final shortlist for both the position of chairman and the positions of independent members; the Prime Minister will then make the formal appointment. The procedure will follow the principles of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

We hope to have the House of Lords Appointments Commission in place by April. However, these are important appointments and we do not intend the process of making them to be skimped to meet a self-imposed artificial deadline.