Clause 3

Part of Statistics and Registration Service Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 12:30 pm on 16 January 2007.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mark Hoban Mark Hoban Shadow Minister (Treasury) 12:30, 16 January 2007

Absolutely, and I agree that at various stages of these Committee debates we will come to ways in which we might try to reduce the Treasury’s influence over this process. I understand that the hon. Gentleman is recommending one way of doing so and there are others, which we will explore in more detail later. It is important to get this issue right and I am not sure that the amendment is the best way of doing so, but I acknowledge the validity of the hon. Gentleman’s arguments.

The right hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth made an important comment about the experience and background of the non-executive directors. I hope that the Financial Secretary will reflect on his plea for a variety of experience. The hon. Member for Twickenham also said that we need to ensure that the non-executive directors appointed to the board reflect a wide range of expertise and experience. Given the three territorial appointments that have been made, I am not entirely sure that simply limiting to five the number of non-executive directors in addition to the chairman, will enable the board to reflect the expertise and experience to which the right hon. Gentleman and the hon. Member for Twickenham referred. There are some persuasive arguments for increasing the number of non-executive directors from at least five to at least eight.