To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance he has given the Commissioner for Public Appointments regarding his role in relation to reappointments of existing chairpersons of public bodies whose terms of office are or shortly will be due for renewal. [9730]

None. The Commissioner for Public Appointments is independent of Government. His code of practice for public appointments procedures, which came into effect on 1 July 1996, states

"Reappointments to the same post should not be automatic. The performance of the post-holder should be reviewed. A second reappointment should be exceptional and normally subject to a scrutiny process, including considering other candidates."