WIREDGOV

The Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, and the Scottish Ministers have appointed the following to be members of the Council on Tribunals:

Mrs Rosalind Hepplewhite and Ms Penny Letts for a period of four years from 1 September 2002;

Mr Barrie Wilcox for a period of four years from 1 February 2003;

Mr Bernard Quoroll for a period of four years from 1 May 2003; and

Mrs Elizabeth Cameron for a term of three years from 2 September 2002.

Mrs Cameron has also been appointed to the Council's Scottish Committee for the same period.

Notes for editors

1. Mrs Hepplewhite chairs the Leicestershire and Rutland Area Probation Board. She was Chief Executive and Registrar of the General Dental Council from 1996 to 2000. Between 1992 and 1994 she was Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency.

2. Ms Letts is a Commissioner Member and Visit Team Leader with the Mental Health Act Commission. She also undertakes consultancy work for Mind and the British Medical Journal. From 1987 to 2001 she worked for the Law Society as Policy Advisor with particular responsibilities for mental health and disability.

3. Mr Wilcox, a former career civil servant in the Welsh Office, has been employed as Director of Primary and Community Health by the National Assembly for Wales since his retirement in 1991. Since January 2002 he has been a lay member of the General Optical Council and is deputy chair of the Council's disciplinary committee.

4. Mr Quoroll is a solicitor with an extensive career in local government. He has held the post of Chief Executive in three local authorities: between 1985 and 1995 at Aylesbury Vale District Council; between 1995 and 1999 at Kingston upon Thames and between 1999 and 2001 at the Isle of Wight County Council. He will represent the interests of Wales.

5. Mrs Cameron is deputy manager of the Edinburgh Central Citizens Advice Bureau. She co-ordinates the mediation service at the Edinburgh Sheriff's Court and manages the In Court Advisor project.

6. These appointments were made in accordance with guidance issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments (OCPA) which requires equality of opportunity for all applicant and principles of public appointment based on merit with independent assessment, openness and transparency. None of those appointed has had any political activity for the last 5 years. Remuneration for each of the posts is £10,219 per annum.

7. The Council on Tribunals and its Scottish Committee are independent advisory bodies established by statute in 1958 and now operating under the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992. The Council's functions include keeping under review the constitution, working and procedures of the large number of tribunals which have been placed under its supervision, as well as the procedures of certain Inquiries. The Council also provides advice to the Government on legislation creating new tribunals and inquiries. The present Chairman of the Council is Lord Newton of Braintree OBE.

8. The Council's Scottish Committee supervises those tribunals and inquiries constituted under Scottish legislation and it acts for the Council in overseeing tribunals in Scotland having a basis in UK legislation.

9. The Council has 15 members appointed jointly by the Lord Chancellor and Scottish Ministers. The Scottish Committee comprises three members of the Council, plus a further four persons. Committee appointments are made solely by Scottish Ministers.

ENDS

Lord Chancellor's Department Press Notice Selborne House, 54 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QW Tel:020-7210 8512/8513 Fax:020-7210 8633 www.lcd.gov.uk