Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973

20 The Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights

(1) There shall be constituted a Commission to be known as the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights (and hereafter in this section referred to as the Advisory Commission) for the purpose of—

(a) advising the Secretary of State on the adequacy and effectiveness of the law for the time being in force in preventing discrimination on the ground of religious belief or political opinion and in providing redress for persons aggrieved by discrimination on either ground;

(b) keeping the Secretary of State informed as to the extent to which the persons, authorities and bodies mentioned in section 19(1) above have prevented discrimination on either ground by persons or bodies not prohibited from discriminating by that law.

(2) The Advisory Commission shall consist of—

(a) a chairman appointed by the Secretary of State from among the members of the Advisory Commission;

(b) the chairman of the Northern Ireland Community Relations Commission;

(c) the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints;

(d) the Northern Ireland Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration; and

(e) such other members as may be appointed by the Secretary of State;

and any member mentioned in paragraphs (b) to (d) above is hereafter in this section referred to as an ex-officio member.

(3) An ex-officio member of the Advisory Commission shall on ceasing to hold the office by virtue of which he is a member of the Commission cease to be a member of the Commission and, if he is the chairman, to be chairman.

(4) The members of the Advisory Commission, other than the ex-officio members, shall hold and vacate office in accordance with the terms of their respective appointments and shall, on ceasing to hold office, be eligible for re-appointment, but any such member may at any time by notice addressed to the Secretary of State resign his office.

(5) The Secretary of State may out of moneys provided by Parliament pay the members of the Advisory Commission, other than the ex-officio members, such remuneration and such allowances as may be determined by the Secretary of State with the consent of the Minister for the Civil Service.

(6) The Secretary of State shall provide the Advisory Commission with such officers and such accommodation as may be appropriate.

(7) The Advisory Commission shall make annual reports to the Secretary of State with respect to the exercise of their functions and make copies of those reports available to the Assembly; and the Secretary of State shall lay any such report before each House of Parliament.