§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she plans to advertise for the positions of chairman and board members to replace the Director General of Fair Trading; and if she will make a statement. [102784]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) was advised in his appointment letter dated 13 July 2000 that he would be appointed chairman if the Enterprise Bill was enacted. He was formally appointed chairman (and therefore executive member of the Office of Fair Trading) from 6 January 2003, following royal assent to the Enterprise Act 2002, under section 13 of the Interpretation Act 1978. This appointment ends on 30 September 2005.
Advertisements for the non-executive members appeared in June 2002, with a closing date of 26 July 2002. Following the interview process, and then consultation with the chairman, four selected appointees were announced in a press notice P/2003/32 dated 21 January 2003 available in the Libraries of the House. These roles will commence under the Enterprise Act 2002 with the new Office of Fair Trading and the end of their appointment terms are staggered between 2007 and 2008.
The current deputy of the DGFT is also being appointed as an executive member from 1 April 2003 for four years (in same press notice).
The department will consult the new board on plans for the appointments of separate Chair and Chief Executive when John Vickers leaves in 2005, but no further action is required this year.