Schedule 1
Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill
9:45 am
James Plaskitt (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions; Warwick and Leamington, Labour)
I had a suspicion that the hon. Member for Rochdale might hang his proposal on the Prime Minister’s statement of 3 July. I was not disappointed.
However, I draw the attention of the hon. Gentleman and that of the hon. Member for Daventry to what is actually being proposed. I suggest that the hon. Member for Rochdale studies carefully “Governance of Britain”, published by the Ministry of Justice, which backs up the Prime Minister’s statement. For accuracy purposes, I shall read into the record a short section from the document so that we can be clear about what is being proposed and why I shall suggest that he withdraws the amendment. It states:
“there are a number of positions in which Parliament has a particularly strong interest because the officeholder exercises statutory or other powers in relation to protecting the public’s rights and interests. Some of these appointments are not subject to oversight by the Commissioner for Public Appointments or other form of independent scrutiny.”
The Government therefore believe that Parliament, through its Select Committees, should play that role. That is made clear in setting the parameters for extending Parliament’s role, but the post is indeed overseen by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, so it is outwith the scope of what is being proposed. However, the appointment of that commissioner is one of those posts that should now become subject to parliamentary approval. It will happen.