§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 17 March 2003,Official Report, column 35WS, on the Cayman Islands, if he will set out the extent of his ministerial responsibilities in respect of the (a) appointment, (b) resignation and (c) term of office of the Attorney-General of the Cayman Islands. [104173]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Governor of the Cayman Islands is responsible for the appointment (which may be for a specified term) of the Attorney-General of the Cayman Islands and for dealing with any voluntary early departure. These responsibilities are conferred on the Governor by the Constitution of the Cayman Islands, which also protects the Attorney-General from removal from office except in accordance with a procedure involving an independent judicial tribunal. It is customary for the Governor to exercise these responsibilities in consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.