asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the composition of the Public Appointments Unit, and if it includes among its functions the assembly of names of candidates for the boards of public corporations.

The Public Appointments Unit at present comprises 10 full-time civil servants, of whom five are clerical and secretarial staff. The unit's primary purpose is to identify the widest possible cross-section of people, from all parts of the country, able to undertake public work. Details of such people are made available as required to Departments whose Ministers make appointments to public boards.