Allow Mandelson quiz, MPs demand

Following Lord Mandelson's surprise appointment last month, there has been no Cabinet-level minister in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) able to come to the despatch box to answer MPs' questions.

In a report, the Commons Business and Enterprise Committee said the situation was "particularly unfortunate" at a time of economic crisis, when the department's work is at the centre of debate.

The committee recognised that allowing Lord Mandelson simply to come to the Commons to answer questions at the despatch box might encourage governments to make the "unwelcome and significant constitutional change" of appointing more ministers from the House of Lords.

It urged the Commons Procedure Committee to think of alternative methods of making the Business Secretary answerable to the House. This could involve inviting him to answer questions from a grand committee of MPs or to appear in the Commons' secondary chamber, Westminster Hall.

On most previous occasions since 1979 when departmental secretaries of state have been in the House of Lords, they have been backed up by a Cabinet-level colleague able to answer questions in the Commons, as well as a team of MPs in more junior ministerial positions, noted the report.

By contrast, the six ministers in the current BERR line-up include three peers - Lord Mandelson, communications minister Lord Carter and competitiveness minister Lady Vadera - as well as two MPs who are shared with other departments - Gareth Thomas with the Department for International Development and Ian Pearson with the Treasury. This means there is only one dedicated minister in the department in the House of Commons - employment minister Pat McFadden.

The committee said: "We do not question the individual competence of Commons ministers in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. However, the pressure of work upon them is immense; not only do they have to master their own portfolio, but they also have to deal with matters as important as competitiveness, small business, communications and the creative industries on behalf of their colleagues in the House of Lords.

"Furthermore, we do not see how members of the House of Commons can effectively make their voices heard when such a significant proportion of the ministerial team is based in the House of Lords or shared with other departments.

"In the past, in similar circumstances, it has been usual for members of this House to be able to seek responses from a Cabinet minister, who would be made aware of MPs' concerns directly. Given current economic circumstances - and the heightened need for Members to be able to approach ministers easily, including informally, on matters of urgency - it is particularly unfortunate that the Department for Business is so thinly represented in the Commons."