Contribution
My Lords, it is a pleasure to speak in this debate. I thank the Retirement and Participation Committee, and in particular the noble Baroness, Lady Taylor of Bolton, as chair, for such a well-constructed report, which I believe makes sound suggestions for the continued reform of the House following the legislation associated with hereditary Members.
I spoke in support of the Burns report, which recommended fixed terms of 15 years, but acknowledge that this issue was not widely accepted at the time. The report before us today acknowledges that some Members find fixed terms an attractive proposition; however, the committee concluded that the potential benefits of fixed-term appointments were outweighed by the potential disadvantages and that this might deter potential younger Members from joining the House.
The House is not reflective of our population in generational representation, or rural and ethnic diversity. In the longer term, I suggest it will be necessary to return to that issue of whether fixed-term appointments, say of 20 or 25 years, particularly for new appointees, would not only be effective in containing the size of the House but result in more multigenerational representation within our body.
I am particularly impressed by the ingenuity of Appendix 4, which explains in plain English how transitional arrangements would work in practice regarding a retirement age of 80. If accepted, the recommendations would provide certainty to all our Members about their own anticipated retirement date—I would be one of the first to go on the dot of 80.
In Table 1, the committee members demonstrate how they will be affected, illustrating their personal commitments to the Nolan principles of public life. It is an honour and a privilege to attend this House. Committee members presenting this report acknowledge this while recommending a solution that will affect us all, including themselves, that is consistent with upholding integrity, selflessness and leadership as they apply to appointed public officeholders.
I came here through the Appointments Commission, when the chair was the noble Lord, Lord Kakkar, as a people’s Peer, based largely on my expertise in nursing. In the four countries of the UK, there are currently 500,000 nurses on the professional register—probably a little more. Would it not be arrogant of me to say that we could not at least find suitable replacements for my expertise as I approach the age of 80? With certainty on my retirement date, subject to my not succumbing to illness and earlier retirement, the nursing profession would undoubtedly plan to work with me to identify a range of excellent potential replacements to apply to the Appointments Commission. I am certain that similar potential succession plans could occur across the House resulting in excellent new appointments, bringing contemporary knowledge and experience to inform the work of the House.
Like others, I am concerned about the size of the Cross Benches. With the recent deaths of Lord Laming and, a little while ago, Baroness Howarth, we are very short of social work practice and knowledge, particularly in child protection. We should be looking at these issues.
I fully support the recommendations and want to thank the committee members again for a carefully considered review of evidence and the manifesto commitment to introduce a retirement age. The recommendations will protect some of our youngest Members who have given up other career opportunities understanding that their appointments would be for life. Reducing this to 80 seems a fair approach for younger Members too, as the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, said earlier. It also avoids the necessity of considering the introduction of an occupational health assessment at a predetermined age to ensure competency and safety in the workplace, in line with other professions.
I also express my support for the idea of an emeritus association. I live five hours away, but I would be happy to pay my fare if I wanted to come up and meet a group of friends, as I do on other occasions with other Members.
Watching Last Night of the Proms, I saw a new definition of AI –that Dolly Parton had always had authentic integrity. I challenge us as a body to display a similar approach to this particularly important report.