§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 11 December 1996,Official Report, column 281–84, what factors underlay the extension of the period of office of the Scottish Office appointees to each of the non-departmental public bodies listed. [12141]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: It is common practice for individuals to be offered re-appointment where they have achieved a satisfactory standard of performance and this was the case in each of the extensions concerned. The Commissioner for Public Appointments has confirmed this practice in the case of first re-appointments but has advised that second re-appointments should be exceptional and normally subject to a scrutiny process, including consideration of other candidates.