Mounting influence of Number 10 worries peers

THE Prime Minister exercises too much unaccountable power, said peers today as they demanded tougher scrutiny of the mounting influence of Number 10.

An investigation by the Lords Constitution Committee concluded that the PM's twice-yearly appearance before a senior Commons committee was inadequate, and it called for the Permanent Secretary at Number 10, a top civil service post created by Gordon Brown, to face parliamentary grillings.