Goats and tsars should be checked

Thursday, March 11, 2010

The practice of bringing experienced people from outside government into ministerial teams can make government more effective but this could also be achieved by making more use of backbench talent, the Public Administration Select Committee has said.

Delivering bad news for those who want a government of all talents (goats) and to bring in experts or tsars, the committee recommended that appointing ministers from outside Parliament via the House of Lords should be exceptional and subject to more checks and balances. Any further moves in this direction would require a wider review of the constitutional issues, it said.

The Prime Minister should have to explain to the House of Commons why an appointment had been made, under what terms and what was expected of the minister during their time in government, the committee suggested, with anyone to be appointed having to attend a pre-appointment select committee hearing.

Chairman Tony Wright said: "The appointment of ministers from outside Parliament has brought some very successful ministers into government. However, the increasing numbers of such appointments cannot be considered in isolation from the wider constitutional position. Appointments from outside Parliament should be exceptional, subject to proper scrutiny by the elected House of Commons, and a short period as a minister should not lead to a title and seat in the legislature for life."