Clause 8 - Further appointments to inquiry panel
Inquiries Bill [Lords]
3:45 pm
Mr Christopher Leslie (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs; Shipley, Labour)
I understand the sentiment behind the amendment, but the advice that I have been given by my officials is that it is unnecessary, not least because it would duplicate the requirement already set out in clause 4(3), which reads:
“Before appointing a member to the inquiry panel (otherwise than as chairman) the Minister must consult the person he has appointed, or proposes to appoint, as chairman.”
That subsection requires the Minister to consult the chairman before appointing any member to the inquiry panel. That applies to appointments made at any time, including further future appointments to the inquiry panel under clause 8. That is our understanding of what the hon. Gentleman is trying to achieve, so the amendment is not necessary because what it seeks to do is covered in clause 4(3).