Even though the last are unpaid, they are widely regarded as being on the "first rung of the ministerial ladder". There is a commonly-observed convention in the British constitution that all government ministers, including the Prime Minister, be members of either the House of Commons or the House of Lords, although this is not always strictly observed.
Despite being unpaid, these roles are highly regarded as starting points for ministerial careers in the British system. The constitution typically requires all government ministers, including the Prime Minister, to be members of either the House of Commons or the House of Lords; however, this requirement is not always strictly adhered to.