(1)Subsections (2) and (3) apply to any selection under this Part by the Commission or a selection panel (“the selecting body”).
(2)Selection must be solely on merit.
(3)A person must not be selected unless the selecting body is satisfied that he is of good character.
(1)The Commission, in performing its functions under this Part, must have regard to the need to encourage diversity in the range of persons available for selection for appointments.
(2)This section is subject to section 63.
(1)The Lord Chancellor may issue guidance about procedures for the performance by the Commission or a selection panel of its functions of—
(a)identifying persons willing to be considered for selection under this Part, and
(b)assessing such persons for the purposes of selection.
(2)The guidance may, among other things, relate to consultation or other steps in determining such procedures.
(3)The purposes for which guidance may be issued under this section include the encouragement of diversity in the range of persons available for selection.
(4)The Commission and any selection panel must have regard to the guidance in matters to which it relates.
(1)Before issuing any guidance the Lord Chancellor must—
(a)consult the Lord Chief Justice;
(b)after doing so, lay a draft of the proposed guidance before each House of Parliament.
(2)If the draft is approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament within the 40-day period the Lord Chancellor must issue the guidance in the form of the draft.
(3)In any other case the Lord Chancellor must take no further steps in relation to the proposed guidance.
(4)Subsection (3) does not prevent a new draft of the proposed guidance from being laid before each House of Parliament after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice.
(5)Guidance comes into force on such date as the Lord Chancellor may appoint by order.
(6)The Lord Chancellor may—
(a)from time to time revise the whole or part of any guidance and re-issue it;
(b)after consulting the Lord Chief Justice, by order revoke any guidance.
(7)In this section—
“40-day period” in relation to the draft of any proposed guidance means—
if the draft is laid before one House on a day later than the day on which it is laid before the other House, the period of 40 days beginning with the later day, and
in any other case, the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which the draft is laid before each House,
no account being taken of any period during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both Houses are adjourned for more than 4 days;
“guidance” means guidance issued by the Lord Chancellor under section 65 and includes guidance which has been revised and re-issued.