Foulkes: New peer

Four prominent Scottish political figures are among a 16-strong list of peers to be confirmed on Saturday.

Former ministers Lewis Moonie and George Foulkes are to head to the House of Lords after the general election.

Both stood down from the Commons after the Scottish boundary review resulted in a 13 seat reduction north of the border.

Moonie stood aside in his Kircaldly seat to make room for Gordon Brown and Foulkes announced he would not seek the candidacy  in his Ayrshire constituency.

Foulkes was removed as minister of state at the Scotland Office by Tony Blair, but remained a doggedly loyal supporter of the prime minister during the debates surrounding the Iraq conflict.

Fellow former Labour MP Martin O'Neill, who was also chairman of the Commons trade and industry select committee, also heads to the Lords.

Long-serving Liberal Democrat Sir Archy Kirkwood is also announced as a working peer in the dissolution honours list.

Some 15 Scottish MPs stood down at the dissolution of parliament.

Father of the House Tam Dalyell is not heading to the Lords after he signalled his decision to end his Westminster career.

Former Scotland secretary Helen Liddell is not awarded a peerage, but is expected to become high commissioner of Australia if Labour is returned on May 5.

Scottish solicitor general Lynda Clark also leaves the Commons, although she is expected to become a senior member of the Scottish judiciary in the next parliament.

Former energy minister Brian Wilson does not feature on the list of new peers - although he could be elevated sometime in the next parliament.