§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister how many applicants for a people's peerage since April 2002 were acquainted with a Commissioner of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. [138661]
§ The Prime MinisterBetween 1 April 2002 and 31 August 2003, House of Lords Appointments Commission members were acquainted with 13 out of the 94 people from whom the Commission received nominations.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of those peers created since 1997, with particular reference to people's peers. [139431]
§ The Prime MinisterNone. It is not for the Prime Minister to make an assessment of the effectiveness of members of the House of Lords.
771W
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the timetable for creating further people's peers. [139433]
§ The Prime MinisterI have invited the House of Lords Appointments Commission to recommend a small number of non-party-political peers. I understand that the Commission is currently considering nominations and will make an announcement in due course.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister how many of those aspiring people's peers who were invited to interview but who were unsuccessful have indicated that they no longer wish their application to be reconsidered. [139746]
§ The Prime MinisterOne.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister how many aspiring people's peers who were invited to interview but were not subsequently recommended for elevation to the peerage requested feedback from the Commission as to why they were unsuccessful. [139747]
§ The Prime MinisterNone. The House of Lords Appointments Commission made clear in its information pack at the start of the process that it would not provide feedback on unsuccessful nominations.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister how many applications for a people's peerage have been received since April 2001 from hereditary peers who no longer have the right to sit in the House of Lords. [139748]
§ The Prime MinisterThis information could be provided only at disproportionate cost and in breach of the House of Lords Appointments Commission's undertakings to treat all personal information in individual applications in strict confidence.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answers of 13 November 2003,Official Report, columns 429–30W, on the House of Lords, what initiatives the House of Lords Appointments Commission is planning to increase the number of applications from aspiring people's peers. [139794]
§ The Prime MinisterThe House of Lords Appointments Commission keeps its plans for attracting new nominations under review.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answers of 13 November 2003,Official Report, columns 429–30W, on the House of Lords, whether any of the applications received since April 2001 were from (a) knights or dames, (b) professors and (c) persons holding the OBE or CBE; and if he will list the employment categories of applicants in work. [139795]
§ The Prime MinisterYes. The Commission does not record figures because it is not pertinent to the Commission's consideration of nominations. The Commission does not ask applicants for information about their occupation or employment status as it does not wish to discourage people with outstanding achievements in areas unconnected with how they might earn their living.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answers of 13 November 2003,Official Report, columns 429–30W, on the House of Lords, if he 772W will ask the House of Lords Appointments Commission to hold a meeting in Pendle to encourage people there to think about putting themselves forward as a people's peer. [139796]
§ The Prime MinisterNo. The House of Lords Appointments Commission is independent and it is for them to decide on their programme of meetings.