Communications Act 2003
11.—(1) The Communications Act 2003(1) is amended as follows.
(2) In section 17 (membership etc. of the Consumer Panel)(2)—
(a)in subsection (4A) for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute—
“(a)is an employee of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (“Citizens Advice”), and
(b)is nominated for the purposes of this subsection by Citizens Advice after consultation with OFCOM.”;
(b)in subsection (4B) for “a member of the National Consumer Council” substitute “an employee of Citizens Advice”;
(c)after subsection (4B) insert—
“(4BA) The Secretary of State may direct OFCOM to appoint as a member of the Consumer Panel a person specified by the Secretary of State who—
(a)is an employee of the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (“Citizens Advice Scotland”) Citizens Advice Scotland, and
(b)is nominated for the purposes of this subsection by Citizens Advice Scotland after consultation with OFCOM.
(4BB) Only one person may, at any time, be a member of the Consumer Panel appointed in accordance with a direction under subsection (4BA); but that does not prevent OFCOM appointing as a member of the Consumer Panel any person who is also an employee of Citizens Advice Scotland.”;
(d)for subsection (4C) substitute—
“(4C) A person appointed in accordance with a direction under subsection (4A) or (4BA) ceases to be a member of the Consumer Panel—
(a)on ceasing to be an employee of Citizens Advice or, as the case may be, Citizens Advice Scotland, or
(b)if Citizens Advice or, as the case may be, Citizens Advice Scotland decide that the person is no longer to be on the Consumer Panel.”;
(e)in subsection (5) after “to (4A)” insert “and (4BA)”.
Section 17(4A) to (4C) was inserted, and section 17(5) amended, by section 40 of the 2007 Act.