2(1)The chair of the Commission is to be appointed by Her Majesty on an Address from the House of Commons.E+W
(2)A motion for such an Address may be made only if—
(a)the Speaker of the House of Commons agrees that the motion may be made, and
(b)the person whose appointment is proposed in the motion has been selected in accordance with a procedure put in place and overseen by the Speaker's Committee (see section 2 of the 2000 Act).
(3)Such an Address must specify the period, not exceeding five years, for which the proposed chair is to be appointed.
(4)A person may not be appointed as chair under sub-paragraph (1) if by virtue of paragraph 1(3)(a) to (d) that person may not be appointed as an ordinary member.
(5)Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, the chair holds office—
(a)for the period of their appointment (which is to be that specified under sub-paragraph (3)), and
(b)otherwise in accordance with the terms of their appointment.
(6)The chair ceases to hold office on the occurrence of such an event as is mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (e) of paragraph 1(6).
(7)The chair may, on the chair's request, be relieved of office as chair by Her Majesty.
(8)The chair may be removed from office by Her Majesty on an Address from the House of Commons.
(9)No motion may be made for such an Address unless the Speaker's Committee have presented a report to the House of Commons stating that the Speaker's Committee are satisfied that one or more of the following grounds is made out in relation to the chair—
(a)failure to discharge the functions of their office for a continuous period of at least three months;
(b)failure to comply with the terms of appointment as chair;
(c)conviction of a criminal offence;
(d)being an undischarged bankrupt or having their estate sequestrated in Scotland and not being discharged;
(e)making an arrangement or composition contract with, or granting a trust deed for, their creditors;
(f)otherwise being unfit to hold office as chair or unable to carry out the functions of that office.
(10)No-one may serve as chair for more than ten years (continuously or otherwise).
(11)In the case of a re-appointment, the reference in sub-paragraph (2)(b) to being selected in accordance with a procedure put in place and overseen by the Speaker's Committee is to be read as including a reference to being recommended for re-appointment by the Speaker's Committee.
(12)Service as chair is not service in the civil service of the State.
Commencement Information
I1Sch. 1 para. 2 in force at 1.4.2010 by S.I. 2009/3318, art. 4(dd)