asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 29 October (WA 172) concerning the composition of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, what measurement is used to determine whether the Secretary of State has complied with the obligation to ensure that the commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland. [HL6047]

Under the Northern Ireland Act 1998 the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is obliged, when making appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, to secure so far as practicable, that the Commissioners as a group are representative of the community in Northern Ireland.

The composition of existing commissioners is taken into account when appointments are made, so that this obligation can be met.

The Secretary of State has complied with this obligation in every appointment that has been made to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.