§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the appointees to date to each of the new regional environmental protection advisory committees indicating the criteria by which they were selected. [21091]
§ Mr. ClappisonMy right hon. Friend has appointed the chairmen of six of the seven regional committees in England, as follows:
- Brian Alexander: North West
- Penny Perry: Midlands
- Betty Goble: Anglian
- John Ferguson: Thames
- Robert Crossett: Southern
- Dennis Mitchell: South West
Many nominations for these posts were received in response to our public invitation and candidates were assessed according to their experience and knowledge in relation to the committees' functions and regions and their ability to lead these high profile committees.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has appointed Graham Court as chairman of the committee in Wales.
Further appointments, of individual members to each committee, are matters for the agency itself in accordance with the membership schemes recently approved by my right hon. Friend.