The Foreign Secretary in the House of Lords.

Update 29 November 2023

How can a prime minister make someone who isn’t an MP foreign secretary? It's a fair question to ask and the answer is set out in the article that asked the question -

David Cameron returns: how can a prime minister make someone who isn't an MP foreign secretary? And what happens now? (theconversation.com)

The elevation of former Prime Minister David Cameron to a life peerage is perfectly lawful though there are some questions about how and when the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) is involved in the process. 

Cameron served

as Prime Minister from May 2010 to July 2016 but resigned in July 2016 when, having argued for remaining in the EU, the 2016 EU referendum went against him. He left Parliament in September the same year but now returns as a member of the House of Lords and will serve as Foreign Secretary.

Ministers, even those who attend Cabinet, may sit in the Lords. That is perfectly lawful and there are many previous examples but, in modern times, it has a somewhat unsatisfactory feel about it. Military conflict in Ukraine and in Israel / Palestine have placed UK foreign policy higher in the political agenda. How then will the elected House of Commons be able to scrutinise Cameron's work? Of course there are other Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers in the Commons but not the most senior Minister. The Speaker of the House of Commons has asked for clarification - (Statement 13 November 2023).

Update 29 November 2023:

This issue is to be considered by the House of Common Procedure Committee - Commons scrutiny of Secretaries of State in the House of Lords - Committees - UK Parliament which is undertaking an inquiry to explore options for MPs to effectively scrutinise Secretaries of State in the House of Lords and the work of their departments.

Some links:

Parliament - The Constitution Society (consoc.org.uk)

The Commission – House of Lords Appointments Commission (independent.gov.uk)

Vetting appointments to the House of Lords - House of Lords Library (parliament.uk)

House of Lords Appointment Commission (HOLAC) – Chronicle of a Death Foretold? - The Constitution Society (consoc.org.uk) July 2023

Joining and leaving the House of Lords | Institute for Government

Direct ministerial appointments to the House of Lords | Institute for Government

David Cameron returns: how can a prime minister make someone who isn't an MP foreign secretary? And what happens now? (theconversation.com)

Accountability_modern_government_WEB.pdf (instituteforgovernment.org.uk)

Peerages awarded to former UK prime ministers - House of Lords Library (parliament.uk)

Erskine May - UK Parliament