§ Mr. Frank CookTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations underlay his decision to appoint a serving local authority chief executive to the membership of the Audit Commission; and what assessment he has made of the impact of this appointment on the independence of the Audit Commission from those bodies it supervises.
§ Mr. CurryThe Secretary of State appoints to the Audit Commission those whom he considers have the most appropriate skills and experience. Mr John Foster was appointed on this basis. Members do not represent particular interests, and the independence of the Audit Commission is not affected by the appointment of a serving chief executive, any more than it has been by the appointment in the past of serving local authority members.