§ Mr. ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make an announcement about the establishment and membership of the service authorities provided for under sections 1 and 47 of the Police Act 1997 to maintain the National Criminal Intelligence Service and National Crime Squad. [12157]
§ Mr. StrawI have decided to appoint Sir John Wheeler to chair the service authorities. I am delighted that Sir John has accepted this appointment. I have no doubt that his skills and experience will prove invaluable to the service authorities in their task of maintaining the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the National Crime Squad, both of which will substantially strengthen our ability to tackle organised and serious crime at national and international level. During his 18 years in 265W Parliament, Sir John chaired a number of committees and groups, including the all-party penal affairs group and the Home Affairs Select Committee.
In 1990, he was awarded a knighthood for service to the Select Committee. He has been a justice of the peace in London since 1978 and is an active member of the Order of Saint John.
The other independent members I propose to appoint are Paul Lever and Peter Holland. Paul Lever is chairman of BSM Group plc and of Ashworth hospital authority. He has held senior management positions in major public companies and has considerable experience in the fields of strategic and financial management. Peter Holland is an independent business consultant and is also chairman of Hertfordshire police authority. He has held senior management positions in the Reuters Group, with responsibility for human resource and financial management.
I am also appointing Maria Callaghan to represent me in my capacity as the police authority for the Metropolitan police district. Miss Callaghan is a member of the Metropolitan police committee, chairs the Calotels Hotel Group and has extensive experience of business management. She holds a bachelor of law degree and has practised as a commercial lawyer.
These are four of the appointments for core members, of which there are 10 in all, who serve on both service authorities. The six other core members are:
Member Position Appointed by Councillor Stephen Murphy Greater Manchester Police Authority (LAB) Police authorities (East and West) Councillor Bob James West Midlands Police Authority (LAB) Police authorities (East and West) Councillor Peter Fallows West Mercia Police Authority (CON) Police authorities (East and West) David Veness QPM Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police ACPO David Phillips QPM Chief Constable, Kent Constabulary ACPO John Warne Director, Organised and International Crime Directorate, Home Office Home Secretary The NCIS Service Authority has a total of 19 members. The additional members are:
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Member Position Appointed by Cllr. Ron Fisher JP South Yorkshire Police Authority (LAB) Police authorities (E and W) Cllr. Owen May Devon and Cornwall Police Authority (Lib Dem) Police authorities (E and W) Cllr. Julia Sturrock Taysie Joint Police Board Police authorities (Scotland) Pat Armstrong CBE Police Authority for Northern Ireland PANI Ian Oliver QPM Chief Constable, Grampian Police ACPOS Ronnie Flanagan OBE Chief Constable, Royal Ulster Constabulary Royal Ulster Constabulary
Member Position Appointed by Dick Kellaway Chief Investigation Officer, Her Majesty Customs and Excise Commissioners for Customs and Excise Duncan Macnivan Head of Police, Fire and Emergencies Group, Scottish Office Secretary of State, Scotland John Steele CBE OBE TD DL Senior Director, Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Northern Ireland The National Crime Squad Service Authority has a total of 17 members. The additional members are:
Member Position Appointed by Cllr. Ken Walker Cleveland Police Authority (LAB) Police authorities (E and W) Cllr. Barry Murray South Wales Police Authority (LAB) Police authorities (E and W) Cllr. Neil Taggart West Yorkshire Police Authority (LAB) Police authorities (E and W) Cllr. Sir. John Grugeon DL Kent Police Authority (CON) Police authorities (E and W) Cllr. Elfyn Williams North Wales Police Authority (Lib Dem) Police authorities (E and W) Cllr. Mrs. Angela Harris DL North Yorkshire Police Authority (Lib Dem) Police authorities (E and W) David Wilmot QPM Chief Constable, Greater Manchester Police ACPO The independent members were selected in line with Nolan principles following the procedures set out by Sir Len Peach in his guidance on public appointments. The police authority members for England and Wales were selected from among the local authority members of police authorities so as to ensure that, as far as practicable, the membership of the service authorities reflects the balance of parties across all local authority members of police authorities.