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You, too, can be a peer

MEMBERS of the public from every walk of life
were today invited to put themselves forward to become a peers in the House of Lords.

They will have an unprecedented opportunity to help frame legislation and participate in Lords debates under the scheme proposed by the independent House of Lords Appointments
Commission, established last May by the Prime
Minister, Tony Blair.

The Commission, chaired by Lord Stevenson, a
crossbench peer, today began to write to up to 10,000 public, private and voluntary
organisations in a bid to find the "outstanding" non-party political peers.

Lord Stevenson said he was looking for people
with "integrity, independence and a significant record of achievement in their chosen field or way of life - people with the skills and experience to contribute effectively to the work of the House of Lords".

The Commission, which comprises three
independent members and three nominated by
the main political parties, will make
recommendations to the Queen on the basis of
individual merit. Lord Stevenson said that in the next few weeks, Commissioners will be holding meetings throughout the UK to brief leaders of communities on how the system will work.

Candidates, who must be over 21 and a UK,
Irish or Commonwealth citizen, will have to send in an application form along with a CV and two references. The closing date for the round of nominations is Nov 17 and the commission hope to make its first recommendations in Spring 2001. For an information pack, call 0117 982
1171 or visit the Commission's website - www.houseoflordsappointmentscommission.gov.uk

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