3.—(1) The Board shall consist of—
(a)a chairman, a deputy chairman, and not less than 10 nor more than 18 other members appointed by the Secretary of State; and
(b)not more than five members co-opted by the Board with the approval of the Secretary of State.
(2) A person shall not be appointed or co-opted as a member of the Board for more than three years at a time.
(3) A person may at any time resign his office as a member or as chairman or deputy chairman by notice in writing to the Secretary of State.
(4) The Secretary of State may at any time remove a person from office as a member if satisfied that he—
(a)has been absent from meetings of the Board or a committee of the Board for a period longer than three consecutive months without the permission of the Board;
(b)has been adjudged bankrupt or has made any composition or arrangement with his creditors;
(c)is incapacitated by physical or mental illness; or
(d)is otherwise unable or unfit to discharge the functions of a member.
(5) If a person who is chairman or deputy chairman ceases to be a member of the Board, he shall also cease to be chairman or deputy chairman.
(6) Where the place of a member becomes vacant before the expiration of his term of office whether by death, resignation or otherwise, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the Secretary of State and any person so appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the term of office of the former member.
(7) A person whose term of office as a member of the Board expires by effluxion of time or who has resigned that office shall be eligible for re-appointment.
4. The Board shall pay or make provisions for such remuneration and allowances (including allowances for expenses), pensions and gratuities to or in respect of the chairman, deputy chairman and other members of the Board as the Secretary of State, with the approval of the Treasury, may determine.
5. Where a person ceases to be a member of the Board otherwise than on the expiry of his term of office, and it appears to the Secretary of State that there are special circumstances which make it right for that person to receive compensation, the Secretary of State may, with the approval of the Treasury, direct the Board to make to that person a payment of such amount as the Secretary of State, with the approval of the Treasury, may determine.
6. In Part II of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975F1 (bodies of which all members are disqualified) there shall be inserted at the appropriate place in alphabetical order—N.I.
“ The Probation Board for Northern Ireland ”.