APPOINTMENT OF PEOPLE'S PEERS

Early day motion 603, tabled 25 April 2001 by Gordon Prentice (Labour). Signed by 20 members.

That this House recognises the Government's belief that the appointment of 15 new 'non-party political' people's peers will increase the extent to which the House of Lords is representative of the United Kingdom as a whole; notes that the House of Lords Appointments Commission set out on four regional roadshows costing ú12,000 to encourage putative people's peers to apply; further notes that 3,141 applicants were subsequently considered for appointment - including 17 whose main homes were outside the United Kingdom, but regrets that the 3,126 rejected applicants were not given reasons for their rejection even if requested; believes that copies of all applications for a seat in the legislature of the United Kingdom as a people's peer should be lodged in the Library; is astonished that non-party political people's peers will, after enoblement, have a free choice as to whether to take a party whip; concludes that in a modern democracy the election of legislators is preferable to appointment; and calls for a directly-elected House of Lords of no more than 100 members.

Signatures by party: Labour 18, Labour/Co-operative 1, Liberal Democrat 1.