§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 11 December (WA 200), whether those who applied to become members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and were rejected (either with or without an interview) have less merit than the nine commissioners who were reappointed. [HL2126]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice (CPA) makes clear that first re-appointments may be made, subject to certain considerations, without the need for an open192WA competition. The re-appointments of the eight Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioners were made in accordance with that code of practice.
Ministers decided that it was particularly important in considering appointments to a newly established body such as the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to strike a balance between injecting fresh thinking and providing continuity, especially while the commission was undertaking important, long-term projects such as the consultation exercise on the scope for a Bill of Rights in Northern Ireland.
As there is no statutory requirement for the commission to be a particular size, the Secretary of State decided to re-appoint the existing commissioners and to strengthen the commission's existing ability to respond to the demands on its time and very heavy workload by appointing new members to the commission.
Given the guidance on re-appointments from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, it is not necessary or appropriate to compare the merits of those re-appointed with those who applied in 2001 to become members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.