§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to re-appoint the Agriculture and Biotechnology Commission when its term finishes. [86570]
§ Ms Hewitt[holding answer 10 December 2002]The existing terms of office of the Chair and Members of the AEBC expire at the end of January 2003. The AEBC is a public body and appointments and re-appointments are made under the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies. As part of this process, I am currently consulting with my Cabinet colleagues and with Ministers in the Devolved Administrations.