Written question asked by Lord Maude of Horsham (Conservative) on Friday, 30 January 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 3 February 2009. It was answered by Lord Beamish (Labour) on Monday, 23 February 2009 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Departmental Public Appointments

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of the public appointments for which his Department is responsible are due to be (a) renewed and (b) filled in the next 24 months; what the (i) remit, (ii) salary, (iii) political restriction, (iv) eligibility requirement and (v) timetable for each appointment is; and what records his Department keeps in respect of such appointments.

Answer: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.The process for making a public appointment, including guidance on political activity and eligibility criteria, follows the Cabinet Office publication 'Making and Managing Public Appointments'. For appointments regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, the appointments process also complies with the 'Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies'. Copies are in the Libraries of the House. Vacancies may be advertised on the Cabinet Office Public Appointments website at"www.publicappointments.gov.uk."Successful candidates are requested to declare their political activities. Information on MOD's Public Appointments can be found at"www.mod.uk."

Secondary information