Equality Act 2006

Membership

2 (1) In appointing Commissioners the Secretary of State shall—

(a) appoint an individual only if the Secretary of State thinks that the individual—

(i) has experience or knowledge relating to a relevant matter, or

(ii) is suitable for appointment for some other special reason, and

(b) have regard to the desirability of the Commissioners together having experience and knowledge relating to the relevant matters.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) the relevant matters are those matters in respect of which the Commission has functions including, in particular—

(a) discrimination (whether on grounds of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or otherwise), and

(b) human rights.

(3) The Secretary of State shall ensure that the Commission includes—

(a) a Commissioner appointed under paragraph 1(1) who is (or has been) a disabled person,

(b) a Commissioner appointed under paragraph 1(1), with the consent of the Scottish Ministers, who knows about conditions in Scotland, and

(c) a Commissioner appointed under paragraph 1(1), with the consent of the National Assembly for Wales, who knows about conditions in Wales.

(4) A person may not be appointed for the purpose of satisfying more than one paragraph of sub-paragraph (3).