§ Mr. BeithTo ask the President of the Council, pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2001,Official Report, column 332W, to the hon. Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) if, in the discussion with the Shrievalty Association, she will seek arrangements to ensure (a) that in the cases of nominations for High Sheriff of persons who have been politically active, those nominations do not arise predominatly from any one political party and (b) that those nominated are not required to have sufficient means to meet the expenses of the office from their own resources. [149564]
§ Mrs. BeckettThe Shrievalty is a non-political office, and any person nominated who has been politically active is required to refrain from local or national political activity during his or her year as Sheriff. Provision is made for funding statutory functions performed through Under-Sheriffs and for certain other functions. There are no plans to fund further the non-statutory activities of 231W Sheriffs from public resources. The extent to which Sheriffs wish to incur personal expenditure on additional activities is a matter for individual decision.