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House of Lords Appointments Commission – New Non–Party–Political Peers

Five new non–party–political peers recommended by the House of Lords Appointments Commission were announced today.

The new non–party–political peers are:

• Dame Ruth Deech, the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education. Previously she was Chairman of the UK Human Embryology and Fertilisation Authority, a Mandela Rhodes trustee and Principal of St Anne's College, Oxford.
  
  
• Michael Hastings, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at the BBC and Chairman of Crime Concern. His previous roles in the BBC include Head of Public Affairs leading the Political and Parliamentary Affairs Department and the first Community Affairs Unit. He is also a trustee of Volunteering England and a former Commissioner for Racial Equality.
  
  
• Professor Sir Martin Rees, the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge and Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge. Previously he was a Royal Society Research Professor. He will become President of the Royal Society in December 2005.
  
  
• Adair Turner, the Chairman of the Independent Pensions Commission and Chairman of the Low Pay Commission. Previously Mr Turner was Director General of the Confederation of British Industry from 1995 to 1999. He is Vice Chair of Merrill Lynch Europe and a Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics and the Cass Business School.
  
  
• Jo Valentine, the Chief Executive of London First. She is also a National Lottery Commissioner and a Board member of the New West End Company, the Central London Partnership, Think London and a trustee of Teach First.
  
  

They will sit on the crossbenches in the Upper House.

Notes to Editors

1. Media enquiries about the work of the House of Lords Appointments Commission should go to Maggie O'Boyle on 07880 740627.
   
   
2. The Appointments Commission is a non–statutory advisory body set up by the Prime Minister to make recommendations for non–party–political peerages. The Commission's remit is to find people of distinction who will bring authority and expertise to the House of Lords. The Commission recommends individuals on merit and their ability to contribute effectively to the work of the House.
   
   
3. The House of Lords Appointments Commission has now recommended a total of 29 non–party–political peerages to the Prime Minister.
   
   
4. Further information on the Appointments Commission can be obtained from www.lordsappointments.gov.uk
   
   
5. The membership of the House of Lords Appointments Commission was announced by the Prime Minister on 4th May 2000. The Chairman, Dennis Stevenson, is a crossbench peer. The Commission comprises two other non–party political members: Mrs Angela Sarkis CBE and Mrs Felicity Huston. These members of the Commission were selected through open competition. The Commission also includes three members nominated by each of the three main political parties: Baroness Brenda Dean of Thornton–le–Fylde (Labour), Lord Douglas Hurd of Westwell (Conservative) and Lord Navnit Dholakia (Liberal Democrat). The terms of all members were renewed in 2003 for a further 3 years.
   
   

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