The General Optical Council, after consulting in accordance with section 3(3) of the Opticians Act 1989, in exercise of their powers under section 3(2) of the said Act, hereby make the following rules:—
1. These rules may be cited as the Companies Committee Rules 1994.
2. In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:
“the Act” means the Opticians Act 1989;
“the Council” means the General Optical Council;
“the Committee” means the Companies Committee established under section 3 of the Act; and
“body corporate”, “ophthalmic optician” and “dispensing optician” have the meanings given them in section 36 of the Act.
3. The Committee shall consist of the persons appointed under Rules 4, 5 and 6.
4. The Council shall appoint as members of the Committee four of their number including:
(a)at least one of the members nominated to the Council by the Privy Council;
(b)at least one member of the Council chosen to represent the interests of registered ophthalmic opticians; and
(c)at least one member of the Council chosen to represent the interests of registered dispensing opticians.
5. The Council shall appoint as members of the Committee the following persons, not being members of the Council:
(a)four persons who appear to the Council to represent the interests of bodies corporate carrying on business as ophthalmic opticians; and
(b)three persons who appear to them to represent the interests of bodies corporate carrying on business as dispensing opticians.
6. The Council shall appoint as a member of the Committee a registered medical practitioner who may be a member of the Council and who appears to the Council to represent the interests of registered medical practitioners engaged in the testing of sight in the practices of bodies corporate.
7. Appointments to the Committee shall be for a period of one year expiring on the 31st day of December. Provided that where a member appointed under Rule 4 ceases to be a member of the Council he shall cease to be a member of the Committee.
8. A member of the Committee may at any time, by notice in writing addressed to the Registrar of the Council, resign his office.
9. Where a casual vacancy occurs among the members of the Committee, it shall be filled by a person appointed by the Council as being a person having qualifications for membership similar to those of the member whose office is vacant. The person appointed to fill a casual vacancy shall hold office until the date upon which the member whose vacancy he has filled would have regularly retired.
10. The Companies Committee Rules 1959 (scheduled to the General Optical Council (Companies Committee Rules) Order of Council 1959) as amended by the Companies Committee (Amendment) Rules 1971 (scheduled to the General Optical Council (Companies Committee Rules) (Amendment) Order of Council 1971) are hereby revoked.