§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria determined the appointment of the chairpersons of the three Scottish water authorities. [22042]
§ Mr. DewarThe new Chairmen of the East and North water authorities, who take up those positions on 1 April 1998, were appointed to the respective authorities in accordance with the procedures laid down by the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice. All candidates were firstly assessed against a list of the knowledge, experience and personal qualities desirable for a Board member. In selecting Chairmen from the membership, I then considered the field in the light of the following desirable attributes:
- substantial public or private sector experience, preferably at Chairman level;
- effective ambassadorial skills;
- ability to develop a clear vision of the future of the public utilities;
- proven leadership qualities;
- ability to command respect, inspire and motivate both within the Board and within the organisation as a whole;
- possess knowledge of management practices in the public sector.