THE APPOINTMENTS COMMISSION

Members of the PCC are appointed by an independent Appointments Committee. This is to ensure that appointments to the Commission are themselves made by a body that has a clear lay majority of members unconnected with the Press

The Appointment Commission is chaired by Lord Wakeham. The other members in 1997 were Sir Denys Henderson (Chairman of the Rank Organisation plc), Sir Geoffrey Holland (Vice Chancellor of Exeter University and Sir Harry Roche (Chairman of the Press Standards Board of Finance). Lord Irvine of Lairg QC served on the Appointments Commission until May 1997 - when he resigned following his appointment as Lord Chancellor. Since then Lord Mayhew of Twysden QC, former Attorney General and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, has been the fifth member of the Appointments Commission

There are sixteen Members of the Commission - drawn from both the press and the public.

Nine of the sixteen members - including the Chairman, Lord Wakeham - are lay members. This clear majority ensures the independence of the Commission from the newspaper industry which generously funds it.

• During the year, Jenny Brown - a lay Commissioner since 1993 - retired from the PCC. The Commission is very grateful to her for her contribution during that time.
  
  
• In August 1997 the Commission welcomed the former Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt. Rev. John Waine, to its membership. Bishop Waine is a former Clerk of the Closet to The Queen, and is Chairman of the Council at the University of Essex

Seven members of the Commission are drawn from the senior ranks of the national, regional and local newspaper and magazine publishing industry. They bring a vital bank of editorial experience and technical expertise to the work of the Commission. There were no changes among these editorial members during 1997.