§ Mr. OlnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for recruiting a new Chairman for British Waterways. [60232]
§ Mr. MealeThe appointment of the current chairman of the Board of British Waterways (BW), Bernard Henderson, expires next April.
I have appointed recruitment consultants, Saxton Bampfylde Hever plc, to assist in identifying suitable potential candidates to succeed Mr. Henderson. I have asked the consultants to provide a preliminary list of names by the end of November.
The new Chairman's main priority will be to implement the Government's forthcoming decisions on BW's future. The selected candidate will need to have the skills, experience, ability and vision to lead a public sector business with a turnover of over £100m per annum and 1,700 employees and to develop successful and innovative partnerships with the private, public and voluntary sectors, including substantial funding activities.