Monday 14 January 2002

Charter88 and the Campaign for the English Regions are holding a seminar to debate the issues which arise from the debate over appointment versus election, particularly in a time of public disengagement from politics. The seminar will investigate the Government's proposals for House of Lords reform and occurs during the run up to publication of the expected White Paper on Regional Government. It will explore how we should secure expertise and widen participation in all representative bodies and consider experiences in the devolved assemblies and overseas.

Chris Lawrence-Pietroni, Acting Director of Charter88 said:

"Debate on the Government's plans for reform of the House of Lords is, in part, focused on the importance of expert opinion to the second chamber and how best to ensure this is represented in a reformed chamber. We question whether appointment is necessary to ensure an expert voice at Westminster when just 10% of current life peers were appointed because of their knowledge of a specific area."

"The Government's proposal that just 20% of the reformed House should be elected has been criticised for hastening the disengagement of the public by keeping them at arms length from decision making. It has also been suggested that Regional Assemblies in England should also have appointed members, not least to achieve the inclusion of "social partners" in decision-making."

Expertise, Participation and Elections: can opposites attract?

Tuesday 15 January 2002

2.00 - 3.30pm

Wilson Room, Portcullis House, Westminster

Speakers:

Mark Fisher MP (Labour, Stoke-on-Trent Central)

Isobel Lindsay (Vice Convenor, Scottish Civic Forum)

Daryll Telles (Director, London Civic Forum)

Robin Clarke (Senior Research Fellow, IPPR)

Chair:

Chris Lawrence-Pietroni (Acting Director, Charter88)