"They had to pack the committee with effectively the payroll vote because they couldn't rely on ordinary backbenchers, " he said.

BBC: A victim of crime

Are all these eminent folk - now part of the government payroll vote - bound to toe the line on pain of resignation?

BBC: Muzzled?

Mr Jenkin noted that the government's plans to cut the number of MPs by 50 would increase the current payroll vote from 22% to 23.5% of the Commons.

BBC: Senior Tory MP calls for fewer ministers