§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether and when they propose to alter the membership of the Northern Ireland Policing Board; what principles they will follow for the appointment of members during the suspension of devolved government; and how they propose to ensure that the independent members, like the political members, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland if devolved government is restored. [HL743]
§ The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)The Government are not proposing to alter the membership of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. The board is currently constituted under Part II of Schedule 1 to the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000— "membership during suspension of devolved government". In October 2002, following the suspension of the devolved institutions the then Secretary of State, John Reid, appointed the current members of the board for a three-year period.
At any other time, ie after restoration of devolved government, Part III of the schedule takes effect. Part III would require the reconstitution of the board, with 10 members of the Assembly nominated as political members under the d'Hondt formula. In appointing the nine independent members the Secretary of State would be statutorily required to exercise his powers of appointment to secure as far as is practicable that the membership of the board is representative of the community in Northern Ireland. In line with guidance from the Commissioner for Public Appointments, the Secretary of State might consider it appropriate to run a supplementary competition to identify further potentially appointable candidates as independent members.