The Commission shall be a body corporate.

The Commission shall not be regarded as the servant or agent of the Crown or as enjoying any status, immunity or privilege of the Crown; and the Commission’s property shall not be regarded as property of, or property held on behalf of, the Crown.

The Secretary of State may by order vary the number for the time being specified in sub-paragraph (1)(b).

The Secretary of State shall so exercise his powers of appointment under this paragraph as to secure that as far as is practicable the membership of the Commission is representative of the community in Northern Ireland.

Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, a person shall hold and vacate office as a member or as chairman of the Commission in accordance with the terms of his appointment.

The chairman and other members of the Commission shall be appointed for a term not exceeding 3 years, and a person appointed to fill a casual vacancy shall hold office for the remainder of the term of the person in whose place he is appointed.

A person may at any time resign as a member or as chairman of the Commission by notice in writing to the Secretary of State.

A member of the Commission whose term of office expires or who has resigned shall be eligible for re-appointment.

The quorum for a meeting of the Commission shall be three.

Every question at a meeting of the Commission shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting on the question, and in the case of an equal division of the votes, the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

If the chairman of the Commission is absent from a meeting of the Commission, the members present shall elect one of their number to act as chairman of the meeting.

Subject to sub-paragraphs (1) to (3) and to the procedural rules, the Commission may regulate its own procedure.

The Commission may, with the approval of the Secretary of State as to numbers and terms and conditions of service, employ persons to assist the Commission or otherwise to enable the Commission to discharge its functions.

The Commission may make arrangements for administrative, secretarial or other assistance to be provided for the Commission by persons employed in the civil service of Northern Ireland or of the United Kingdom.

The Commission shall, with the approval of the Secretary of State, designate a person to whom sub-paragraph (1) or (2) applies as the secretary to the Commission.

Any contract or instrument which, if entered into or executed by an individual, would not require to be under seal may be entered into or executed on behalf of the Commission by any person generally or specially authorised by the Commission to act for that purpose.

Before entering into contracts for the supply of goods or the execution of works, the Commission shall comply with such requirements as the Secretary of State may direct.

The statement of accounts shall contain such information and shall be in such form as the Secretary of State may direct.

The Commission shall send a copy of the statement of accounts to the Secretary of State and the Comptroller and Auditor General within such period after the end of the financial year to which the statement relates as the Secretary of State may direct.

The financial year of the Commission shall be the period of 12 months ending on 31st March; but the financial year that began on 1st January 2000 shall end on 31st March 2001.

The Secretary of State may by order amend sub-paragraph (5).

The Commission shall, within such period after the end of each financial year of the Commission as the Secretary of State may direct, issue a report on the discharge of its functions in that year.

The Secretary of State shall lay before each House of Parliament a copy of each report received by him under this paragraph.