Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to implement therecommendations of the Nolan Committee on appointments; and what impact these measures have had on the time taken for appointmentsto be made. [28851]Mr. Chris Smith: My Department has acted on the guidance issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, whose appointment wasrecommended by the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life.We have established an appointments unit charged with overseeing the implementation of the Commissioner's recommendations. The unitalso maintains a register of people who have expressed an interest in public appointment, acts as the secretariat for the advisorypanels which provide independent scrutiny of shortlisted candidates, and co-ordinates advertising and executive search to fill postswhere necessary, in accordance with the Commissioner's principle of proportionality.These measures have inevitably lengthened the appointments process.