MP Gordon Prentice is demanding urgent action to reform the House of Lords, including scrapping the new independent Appointment Commission.

He has taken up the issue at Westminster with Leader of the Commons John Reid.

Pendle Labour MP Mr Prentice has put down a Commons Motion saying that the House of Lords Appointments Commission is a waste of money.

It costs£120,000 a year, so far recommended one batch of "people's peer" and has met just twice, he says.

His Commons Motion, on the Order Paper Parliament's Daily Agenda circulated to all MPs, ministers and senior civil servants, concludes that "the Commission no longer serves a useful purpose, if it ever did, and should be wound up forthwith."

Mr Prentice raised the motion, signed by 12 other Labour MPs, with Dr Reid in Commons Questions and went on to call for action on the wider question of completing the reforms of Parliament's upper chamber.

He asked: "How we possibly justify keeping the Commission in existence when it has appointed only one batch of people's peers, more than two years ago in April 2001?

"It costs an arm and a leg -- £120,000 a year -- but rarely meets.

"On a connected matter, may I ask what is happening to the joint committee on House of Lords Reform which is clearly deadlocked?

"It is split three ways and I should like to know what plans you have to take House of Lords reform forward."

Doctor Reid replied: "On the last subject, I am tempted to say I have a cunning plan.

"I am afraid that I cannot tell you but I have one at this stage, but I am reflecting on the report that the joint committee recently issued."

He said he had no sympathy for scrapping the Appointments Commission but said Prime Minister Tony Blair would be making an announcement on its work shortly.