My right honourable friend the Prime Minister (Gordon Brown MP) has made the following Statement.
I have today published the ninth report of the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. The report provides an account of the work of the committee in giving advice about appointments that Ministers and senior Crown servants wish to take up after leaving office. The report covers the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2008. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of the House. I am grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Mayhew of Twysden, who was the chairman over this period, and to all the other members, for giving their time and expertise so freely.
As the House has previously been informed, the business of this important committee has been managed by Sir John Blelloch since the noble and learned Lord, Lord Mayhew, stepped down as chairman on health grounds in March this year. I wish to thank him for generously agreeing to extend his service further for this purpose.
The Government intend to refresh the membership of the committee over the coming months. I am pleased that the noble Lord, Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, who is currently serving on the committee, has agreed to step into the role of chairman in this interim period.