PEOPLE'S PEERS

EDM number 1928 in 2002-03, proposed by Gordon Prentice on 17/11/2003.

That this House is dismayed at the prospect of the appointment of more people's peers given the uneven and indifferent participation in the work of the Lords of the first group of 15, appointed in April 2001; notes that the House of Lords Appointments Commission embarked on four road shows in 2000 to drum up interest and encourage applications, but has done nothing similar since; recalls the regrettable remark of the Chairman of the Appointments Commission that people such as hairdressers could not 'cut it' in the Lords; further notes that the Chair and other members of the Appointments Commission were re-appointed by the Prime Minister in July for another three year term, leaving the remit and terms of reference of the Commission unchanged; takes the view that unsuccessful applicants for a people's peerage should be given reasons for their rejection if they so request; expressed no surprise that in every month over the past year the number of new applications has been in single figures; and believes the Commission, costing ú140,000 a year, serves no useful purpose and should be abolished forthwith.

This motion has been signed by a total of 16 MPs.