House of Lords Appointments Commission
Last updated: 02 July 2012
As Chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission I should like to welcome you to our website.
It is my belief that an effective Second Chamber is an important part of our constitution and our democracy. But it will only be effective if it has the right people working in it. This is where the Appointments Commission plays its part.
The Commission's role is to select new independent members of the House of Lords and to vet party-political nominations put forward by the political parties. We select independent members on merit and on their commitment to the work of the House of Lords, in scrutinising legislation, sitting on committees and participating in debates. We want to add to the breadth of expertise and experience that already exists within the House and to ensure that the House of Lords represents the diversity of the people of the UK. Given the present discussions about House of Lords reform, the Prime Minister has asked that we put forward no more than two recommendations for appointment over the course of a year.
Lord Jay of Ewelme
Chairman of the Appointments Commission