We are going to have lots more of the so-called goats, despite the apparent failure of Gordon Brown’s experiment to bring non-politicians into government as Lords ministers. If David Cameron wins next year, he is sure to name more: and has already done so with recent appointments to the opposition front bench. But do they have to become peers? And how can they be held accountable?

Soon, only one of the original four goats (government of all the talents) appointed in 2007 will survive. The jolly sailor, Lord West of Spithead; and Lord Jones of Birmingham, Lord Darzi of Denham and Lord Malloch-Brown return to the “real” world with their titles, and Lord Carter of Barnes, a more recent goat, is going after less than 12 months.

The pool of experience in the Commons has become narrower as many MPs are already full-time politicians when elected. Hence Mr Brown has brought in outsiders with specialist knowledge, such as Lord Carter to work on the Digital Britain plans. This is part of a broader trend, as more Lords ministers have big executive roles as well as legislative ones.

However, Mr Brown has little idea of what being a Lords minister involves. It is not just being an expert. It also means answering questions and taking through legislation. Some goats have been reluctant to take on these tasks, leading to tension with other ministers.

Future prime ministers will face the same dilemma. Where will they find expert ministers? Mr Cameron has brought in Baroness Neville-Jones to work on national security issues and Lord Freud on welfare reform and unemployment. Expect many more.

But while the goats may serve as ministers for only a year or two, they remain peers for life. Sir John Major and Lord Hurd of Westwell have suggested that a prime minister could appoint a small number of unelected ministers of state, who would be answerable to Parliament without being a member of either House. Lord Turnbull, the former Cabinet Secretary, has gone farther in urging a greater separation of the executive from the legislature in order to expand the range of available talent.

The key issue is accountability. If non-MP/Lords ministers take on important roles, shouldn’t they be questioned by MPs? They already appear before Commons committees.

It should be possible to adapt the parallel debating chamber of Westminster Hall to allow regular question sessions by all MPs for secretaries of state in the Lords, such as Lord Mandelson and Lord Adonis now. The problem is when there is a big statement and Cabinet ministers speak in the Lords, leaving it to a junior in the Commons. MPs may be reluctant to legitimise Lords ministers and goats, reducing the opportunities for themselves.

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