To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) procedures and (b) timetable are for the appointment of the new Chairman of Milton Keynes Partnerships. (175606)

[holding answer 7 January 2008]: The new independent chairman of the Milton Keynes Partnership will be appointed on merit following fair and open competition.

Although the chairman is not one of the appointments that the Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates, the appointments procedure will follow the principles set out in the Commissioner’s Code of Practice.

The timetable to recruit a successor to the current chairman, Sir Bob Reid, will commence shortly and the aim is to have a new chairman in post by June 2008.