4(1)If the office of the Ombudsman becomes vacant, Her Majesty may, on the nomination of the Assembly, appoint a person to act as the Ombudsman.E+W
(2)A person appointed to act as the Ombudsman (“an acting Ombudsman”) may have held office as the Ombudsman.
(3)A person appointed as an acting Ombudsman is eligible for appointment as the Ombudsman (unless the person has already held office as the Ombudsman).
(4)The power to appoint a person as an acting Ombudsman is not exercisable after the end of the period of two years starting with the date on which the vacancy arose.
(5)An acting Ombudsman holds office in accordance with the terms of the acting Ombudsman's appointment, subject to sub-paragraph (6) (and paragraph 2, as applied by sub-paragraph (7)).
(6)An acting Ombudsman must not hold office after—
(a)the appointment of a person as the Ombudsman, or
(b)if sooner, the end of the period of two years starting with the date on which the vacancy arose.
(7)While an acting Ombudsman holds office, the acting Ombudsman is to be regarded (except for the purposes of paragraphs 1, 3, 6 to 10 and this paragraph) as the Ombudsman.
Commencement Information
I1Sch. 1 para. 4 in force at 23.7.2019 by S.I. 2019/1096, reg. 2