Audit Commission Act 1998

7 (1) The Commission shall appoint a chief officer who shall be known as the Controller of Audit and his appointment shall require the approval of the Secretary of State.

(2) The Commission shall appoint such other officers and servants as it considers necessary for the discharge of its functions.

(3) The Commission’s officers and servants (in this paragraph referred to as employees) shall be appointed at such remuneration and on such other terms and conditions as the Commission may determine.

(4) The Commission may—

(a) pay such pensions, allowances or gratuities as it may determine to or in respect of any of its employees;

(b) make such payments as it may determine towards the provision of pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of any of its employees; or

(c) provide and maintain such schemes as it may determine (whether contributory or not) for the payment of pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of any of its employees.

(5) The references in sub-paragraph (4) to pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of any employees include references to pensions, allowances or gratuities by way of compensation to or in respect of employees who suffer loss of office or employment.

(6) If an employee becomes a member of the Commission and was by reference to his employment by the Commission a participant in a pension scheme maintained by the Commission for the benefit of any of its employees, the Commission may determine that his service as a member shall be treated for the purposes of the scheme as service as an employee of the Commission whether or not any benefits are payable to or in respect of him by virtue of paragraph 5.