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Northern Ireland Policing Board (Northern Ireland) Order 2007

I, too, thank the Minister for bringing forward the order and commend the Policing Board for its work over a long period, in some very difficult circumstances. It is to be warmly congratulated and I wish all of its members well for the future, whatever that future may be. We hope for devolved government as soon as possible. We support the order. It puts in place the practical steps necessary to ensure that the board is properly constituted, once devolved government is restored. I remember many happy hours spent choosing independent members for my police authority—in fact, hours and hours—so I know how difficult it can be to ensure that the right people are appointed to that very important position. Can the Minister remind me how the chairman and vice-chairman of the board are appointed? I think it is the Secretary of State—no, it is not; so I will be told off. Also, during the appointment of the transitional board, will the Secretary of State take into account the nine independent members’ present constitution or how they were originally constituted or appointed? I think the Minister said that the Secretary of State would look at how they were constituted at the moment and that he would pick nine from those already there. How many will he exclude and how many will he appoint other than those in the original numbers?