(1)The members of the Consumer Panel shall be appointed by OFCOM and shall comprise a chairman and such other members as OFCOM may determine.
(2)The approval of the Secretary of State is required for the appointment of a person to be the chairman or to be another member of the Panel.
(3)In appointing persons to be members of the Consumer Panel, OFCOM must secure that, for each of the following parts of the United Kingdom—
(a)England,
(b)Scotland,
(c)Wales, and
(d)Northern Ireland,
there is a different member of the Panel capable of representing the interests and opinions of persons living in that part of the United Kingdom.
(4)In appointing persons to be members of the Consumer Panel, OFCOM must secure, so far as practicable, that the Panel are able to give informed advice about matters referable to each of the following—
(a)the interests of persons living in rural areas;
(b)the interests of persons living in urban areas;
(c)the interests of small businesses;
(d)the interests of disadvantaged persons, persons with low incomes and persons with disabilities; and
(e)the interests of the elderly.
(5)The validity of any proceedings of the Consumer Panel shall not be affected by any failure by OFCOM to comply with subsection (3) or (4).
(6)It shall be the duty of the Consumer Panel, in carrying out their functions, to have regard to the following interests—
(a)the interests of persons from the different parts of the United Kingdom; and
(b)the interests specified in subsection (4).
(7)A person shall be disqualified from being the chairman or a member of the Consumer Panel if he is a member or employee of OFCOM.
(8)The chairman and every member of the Consumer Panel—
(a)shall be appointed for a fixed period specified in the terms of his appointment but shall be eligible for re-appointment at the end of that period; and
(b)may at any time be removed from the Panel by a notice given by OFCOM with the approval of the Secretary of State.
(9)OFCOM may pay to the chairman and to any other member of the Consumer Panel such remuneration and allowances as OFCOM consider appropriate.